Sporty India Forum::Hockey::Thank You Brasa, For Restoring The Magic Of Indian Hockey

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by on 2009-10-31 01:19:04

Subject :Thank You Brasa, For Restoring The Magic Of Indian Hockey .. 2010-03-01 18:45:16

Kand

Joined: 2009-06-19 12:58:26
Posts: 32
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Thank you, coach Brasa. You have restored my vision of the grace and charm of what used to be Indian hockey. You have no idea what memories you have jogged.

* The combination of Virender Singh, Ashok Kumar and M. P. Ganesh hurtling down the right flank, with exquisite understanding and dribbling acumen.
* The delectable Mohammad Shaheed dribbling through the whole Dutch defence in the 1982 Bombay World Cup, and his (match-tying) goal-bound shot being stopped by the Dutch goalkeeper at the buzzer (India lost 3-4 to Netherlands in the World Cup).
* Benny Boodle and Inam-ur-Rehman playing a 1-2 tag against the opposing team in the 1968 Aga Khan Hockey Tournament, one lovely spring evening in Bombay, that started this writer on an incredible journey into witnessing the wonders of Indian Hockey.

I do not care whether India wins or loses in the 2010 World Cup, though I am sure others, including you, do care. To me, you, Brasa, have reinstated the fluidity, the artistry, the breathtaking but judicious use of skills, that we witnessed in years gone by, that wowed the rest of the world.

Despite the dominance of the athletic Australians, the crafty Dutch and the solid Germans, there is still evidence from all quarters around us, both young and old, that the world is excited and enthralled by the play of the Indians, akin to the Brazilians in soccer.

Thank you, Coach Brasa, for reminding the current Indian hockey players of the ancient ancestral skills - that you finish off a move after you have dribbled past 2 consecutive players, with an exquisite pass. Or that you stop using long, unstoppable hard hits to advance the ball. Or that using teamwork and slick passing you can achieve the same, if not a better result, than dribbling through players.

Thank you, Coach Brasa, for looking after the players like your own children, always fighting for them, against an ignorant and self-serving Indian hockey establishment. Thank you for looking after their nutritional and fitness requirements, for teaching them to think for themselves, and to express themselves both on and off the field.

You have done a service for these poor souls who are artisans of a dying art form (dribbling, swerving, stickwork), the result of years of labor, who toil selflessly for few rewards and a meagre livelihood. Hockey players are among the most unassuming athletes on this planet.

Thank you, Coach Brasa, for teaching the Indian players that only making moves and exhibiting exhilarating skills is not sufficient; one also needs to defend, pass, and use tactics and strategy. Thank you for having the guts to bring in a new culture in Indian Hockey, with concepts like all round players, use of man-to-man marking, and not behaving like prima donnas on the field.

Also further thanks are due to you for blending the European style of play with the Indian skillful play, and making believers of skeptical Indian players who could not believe that they had it in them to do anything European or "defensive" or "body play" (as it is called locally).

Hopefully you have shown the way for other Indian coaches to widen their horizons and to train their teams on playing scientific hockey, and have shown the current set of players that they need to dissipate the knowledge gleaned from their coach to other players.

But above all, I want to thank you personally from the bottom of my heart, for giving me a chance to watch our current team, a team which is different from the others we have witnessed in the recent past. The present Indian team plays modern, pleasing hockey as it should be played, showcasing skills, fluidity and understanding. They may not bring the desired results, but they are sure pleasing to watch and do entertain.

I do not know what is in store for you and your Indian team in the Delhi World Cup, but in my eyes, you have already achieved the impossible - you have given us legions of Indian hockey fans the world over, hope for the future. We shall remain eternally grateful.

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