Netherlands test for buoyant India HI CEO involved in unsavoury issue with players
TRIAL BY FIRE Unbeaten so far, Harendra Singh’s side faces a major challenge in the quarter-finals
We are under no pressure. It was our mistake and we have been told. Elena and I share a good relationship. There is no issue.
BHUBANESWAR: Come Thursday, India will play their most significant match in recent times as a win against Netherlands in the quarter-finals will propel them to the last four of the hockey World Cup --- their first since the 1975 edition, which they won.
“We are ready. We have done our homework on Dutch aggression. Whatever challenge they throw at us, we are ready to solve it. They love attacking hockey and so do we. It will be an equal contest. Tomorrow, you can’t afford to miss even 25% chances, either score or get a penalty corner,” said India coach Harendra Singh.
World No 4 Netherlands, who reached the final of the last World Cup, have been solid here. Apart from the 1-4 blip against Germany, the three-time winners have crushed Pakistan, Malaysia and Canada, controlling proceedings in each contest and not allowing opponents to play freely.
To get an idea of their dominance, the Max Caldas-coached side has scored 17 goals against these three tricky opponents and conceded only one. However, two things might not go in their favour --- lack of rest and a partisan crowd.
Having taken the crossover route (they beat Canada 5-0), they will end up playing three games in five days. The world No 4 side will also be without injured defender Sander de Wijn, who will be replaced by Joep de Mol.
“The pressure isn’t that much on us, India have to play in front of 15,000 people. At the same time, because of our history, there is always some pressure on us. We realise the expectations are high. But we are ready. It’s tough for us to lose an important player. He was an asset,” said Seve van Ass.
The hosts, on the other hand, have got ample rest. By virtue of qualifying directly for the quarters, the Manpreet Singh-led team got a five-day break.
But history shows, world No 5 India have a dismal record against Netherlands in World Cups, having lost all six games they have played against them. However, India will draw heart from the 1-1 draw against Netherlands in the Champions Trophy in June, Harendra’s first assignment as India coach.
India had also made a cleansweep of the two-test series in the Netherlands in August, 2017. However, this is a different tournament.
“Holland is a very good team but we have also done well against them. During Champions Trophy, we drew with them. Earlier too, we have beaten them. This will be a tough match and whoever takes chances will win,” said Manpreet.
Come Thursday, Harendra’s boys will be expected to do what no other Indian team has done since 1975. BHUBANESWAR: Damage control were the key words on Wednesday as Hockey India tried to play down an unsavoury incident that happened at the main stand at the Kalinga Stadium on Monday night and escalated on Tuesday.
Four Indian team members – captain Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh and Krishan Pathak – who were watching the crossover games (Belgium vs Pakistan and Netherlands vs Canada) from West Stand VIP enclosure were rudely ejected by HI’S CEO Elena Norman. According to officials, players are not allowed in the lounge areas reserved for VIPS and can watch matches from the general stands near the dugouts, exactly opposite to the VIP blocks.
What took the players and other guests by surprise is the way the HI top official barged into the lounge and yelled at the players, asking them to ‘get out’.
When contacted, Norman said: “I have no comment to offer.”
It is learnt that the players were shooed away to “ensure their safety.”
“The players are not allowed there. They could have been sanctioned for being in that zone. It is only for their safety that they were asked to leave,” said a HI official, on condition of anonymity. “It was our fault. Players are not allowed to enter the lounge. I think it has been blown out of proportion,” said Manpreet while trying to play down the issue. India play the Netherlands on Thursday in a World Cup quarterfinal. Asked if he was under pressure from HI, the India skipper said: “We are under no pressure. It was our mistake and we have been told. Elena and I share a good relationship.”
Another official who witnessed the event, said the HI CEO was more angry about local authorities handing out lounge bands and entry passes to players. HI later issued a statement on similar lines.
“HI has clarified that those who brought the players in were yelled at as it could result in a serious breach of code and even suspension of players. At no point were the players themselves yelled at during the course of events,” it stated.
The relationship between Norman and top Odisha government officials have not been very cordial since the start of the World Cup. But the treatment meted out to India’s top players evoked antiHockey India reactions.
State level hockey coach Leo Devadoss, who was also in the VIP lounge, wrote on Facebook that he witnessed a “nasty episode”. Former international umpire Anupama Puchimanda and ex-india goalkeeper Ashish Ballal were also not happy with the latter terming the incident as “really pathetic behaviour”.
The players were not allowed there. They could have been sanctioned for being there. It is only for their safety they were asked to leave.
HI OFFICIAL, on the incident