By IANS,
New Delhi : Joaquim Carvalho does not seem to fit into the scheme of things of the all-Olympian new selection committee. Aslam Sher Khan and his co-selectors appear to be in no mood to retain him as coach. It is certain that he will not go to the Azlan Shah tournament at Ipoh, Malaysia, as recommended by the dissolved Indian Hockey federation headed by K. P. S. Gill.
Gill & Co wanted the national coach to go as observer with A K Bansal accompanying the experimental team as coach to Ipoh. The new selection committee Thursday accepted the choice of Bansal, but not that of Carvalho going as observer. Instead, one of the selectors himself may go as an observer for the tournament starting on May 8.
There are divergent views among the selectors on Carvalho’s continuance. At least two selectors feel that they should not take decisions in a hurry. Even if Carvalho has to be replaced at some stage, the selectors want the ad hoc committee to invite applications for the coach’s job so that there is transparency in the selection procedure.
“An open selection will give everyone an opportunity to present their credentials and their achievements,” said one of the selectors, quickly adding that Carvalho could also be a candidate.
The Indian Hockey Federation was dissolved by the Indian Olympic Association three days ago and with the sacking of Gill, hockey circles felt that Carvalho’s days were numbered.
The five selectors nominated by the Indian Olympic Association met here Thursday to take stock of the situation as the Union Sports Ministry had referred the list of players for the Ipoh tournament submitted to it by the IHF.
Before the meeting, the selectors told reporters that there was no point changing the coach so soon and a decision on Carvalho’s future would be taken at a later stage.
However, when news trickled out of the meeting that the selectors were not keen on sending Carvalho as observer to Ipoh, doubts were expressed over his return as national coach for the next tournament.
“The decision not to send Carvalho as coach was the decision of the dissolved IHF. It sent a letter to the Sports Ministry nominating A K Bansal as the coach. We are in agreement with it,” Aslam Sher told IANS after the meeting.
“While we were going through the report the IHF submitted to the Ministry, we were surprised to see that they were not sending Carvalho for the tournament. Instead they had recommended the name of Bansal. We have called Bansal tomorrow and will consult him before taking a final decision on the team,” he said.
Asked whether it was the end of road of Carvalho, Aslam Sher said diplomatically that “the decision not to send him to Azlan Shah was IHF’s and, moreover, I do not think he had a contract with the Federation.”
Other selectors present at the meeting were Ashok Kumar, Ajitpal Singh and Zafar Iqbal. Dhanraj Pillay could not make it Thursday and was expected to join Friday. IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh convened the meeting.