Former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay has come down heavily on the appointment of Jose Brasa as the coach of the Indian team.

By Sai Prasad Mohapatra

Pillay, who is a member of the ad-hoc committee, that appointed Brasa feels that the Indian coaches are much better equipped to train Indian style of hockey…

Pillay is known to shoot and shoot hard. The former star forward has taken the case in point as India’s 2-8 loss to Spain last month and claimed that Brasa’s appointment is a step in wrong direction.

Have you seen their performance now? I don't think we would have been beaten so mercilessly by Spain in our playing days.

An 8-2 loss is humiliating. And the same Spanish coach is now training our boys. However, I must admit, Brasa asked us not to expect too much of the team before they left,” Pillay fumed
 
In the past Pillay’s thoughts have been echoed by the former Olympians as well. Not only on the coach’s subject but also the issue of lack of match feels for the players.
 
It is important that Indian hockey players are paid well if we want to see the team doing well. We had the same issues when I was a player. Till you don't pay them well, the players will not be that motivated."

The jury is still out on Brasa but even Pillay will agree that the least we can offer him is time and space to work his wares.