CHANDIGARH: The problem of Indian hockey,” he says,” is nothing but confusion. We could not copy the European style. In the process we have forgotten our own style. As a result we are utterly confused. Hockey is one of the simplest games.
Shiv Sharan has now given his availability for FIH workshop in ‘Thailand. At present, he says, there are about 25 trainers on the FIH list. There is no other Indian on it, Pakistan has Sami Khan. In the recent past, Shiv Sharan organized similar FIH camps in the Caribbeans.
Shiv Sharan who played for Punjab Agricultural University and Indian Universities before migrating to Canada in 1977 was last there in 1988.”“Thereis lot of talent in India. Our youngsters master basic skills while foreigners take long to learn them. Once Richard Agiss, the famous Australian coach remarked that the moment Indian forwards started scoring field goals, they would become unbeatable.
Shiv Sharan observed that India have talented youngsters besides best skill development programmes. The whole world, he said follows the training drills invented by Indian coaches in 60s and 70s. He emphasized the need for stick body angle at 45 degrees and rolling the bail, while keeping it ahead, rather than dribbling and wasting time advocates the idea that India must stick to its additional style of play by combining short and long passes, playing first time and a passing team game.
He did not agree that the diet of Indian players or their physical built were any handicaps, the world’s best players in ball games, like Pele, John Clift, Manzoor Jr, and Shahbaz Ahmed were all of small or medium built. Both Ind and Pakistan offer more job opportunities than any other top hockey playing nation does, adds Shiv Sharan Singh.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 21, 1993
