Click to play videoNew Delhi: A foreign coach is making Indian players see red - and this time it is not cricket but hockey. CNN-IBN has learnt there is a massive revolt brewing in Indian hockey against Jose Brasa - the man who is supposed to lead the sport out of the abyss.
Six players have not turned up for the India camp currently on in Pune - two of them, Ignace and Prabodh Tirkey are former India captains. Offficialy, they are absent for personal reasons, but CNN-IBN can confirm that there has been a complete breakdown in relations with the coach.
The players allege that Brasa is backing favourites - Brasa made a relatively unknown player, the captain who had not even played 10 international games.
Other coaches in the team confirm that their inputs are not taken by Coach Brasa.
A coach told CNN-IBN on condition of anonymity, "There are issues with the Chief Coach. At the end of the day, it is the players who will deliver not us coaches. We have worked hard to create a team after the disasters of the past. That nucleus has been torn apart."
Many feel Brasa behaves in a high-handed manner that is insulting. The players say they cannot be taught how to dribble the ball after so many years of international experience. This could be taken just as players angst, but CNN-IBN spoke to senior officials in Hockey India who were instrumental in getting Brasa the job. They agree the players have a valid point.
The dismissal of Sandeep Singh as Captain hasn't gone down well with the Indian Hockey team either. A selector told CNN-IBN they had no role in dismissing him.
"Let me tell you, dropping Sandeep Singh as Captain is a stupid idea. We had made him Captain because of certain factors. He is a proven match winner and scores so many goals for us. A captain should lift the team and Sandeep just does that. By having five or six captains, Brasa is creating groups within the team and that is detrimental," said the selector on condition of anonymity.
Players say Brasa has been trying to completely change their playing styles and is trying to tamper with their techniques.
However, since Brasa's record is pretty impressive, many feel that maybe the players are simply upset at being taken out of their comfort zones. CNN-IBN was unable to contact either Brasa or Hockey India officials for comment.
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