Sport - Hockey

Cedric made the scapegoat by IHF
By Our Hockey Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, MARCH 2. A dramatic development came about in the wake of the disastrous showing of the Indian team in the World Cup, with the Chief Coach, Cedric D'Souza, packing his bags and leaving home claiming he was ``sacked,'' when directed to handover charge to the assistant coach, C.R. Kumar. But, Cedric termed the IHF directive, conveyed through the manager Mr. K.G.S. Alva, late last night, as one of humiliation and reflecting lack of confidence in him by the IHF.

Cedric's first stint was in 1994 World Cup and continued till the disastrous eighth place rating at Atlanta in 1996. He cameback last year before the India- Germany series and the Prime Minister's Gold Cup in Dhaka. He was the chief coach for the qualifer at Edinburgh and the Champions Challenge in December last.

Talking to reporters, Cedric said he was being made the scapegoat, and interpreted the IHF suggestion to continue along with C.R. Kumar as tantamount to sacking and not to be advertised as resignation. He also refuted the charge that the team was his choice; but argued it was a consensus of the selection committee at Ipoh, which included the IHF president, K.P.S. Gill, secretary, Jothikumaran, Prithviraj, manager K.G.S. Alva and the Government nominee, Jalaluddin.

Looking distressed and disappointed (his face mirroring that inner anguish of being a victim of circumstances) at the episode, Cedric explained he was never under pressure and felt nothing was wrong with the team which only tried harder and harder every match. He said he had no `regrets.' ``I have worked hard, given every ounce of my energy'' to preparing the team.

Stressing the need to desist from blowing up the issue, taking advantage of the conflicting claims by IHF and his response, Cedric said there was no signed contract with the IHF, but maintained that the IHF move was aimed at ``sacking'' and the directive to stay back and help out Kumar was unacceptable and a clear ``humiliation.''

At a late night meeting between the IHF Secretary, K. Jothikumaran and the manager, Mr. K.G.S. Alva, along with C.R. Kumar it was decided to inform Cedric of the IHF move.

Mr. Jothikumaran said the IHF's suggestion was only to relieve pressure on the coach from a sustained spell of defeats and there was no intention of sacking him. He also claimed that some of the decisions taken at a team meeting before the match against England were not fully implemented during the match by the chief coach. Cedric, however, responded by saying that he had to take certain decisions after the match had begun, and only he had the authority to do so.

Mr. Jothikumaran said he was being instructed in all these developments by the IHF President, Mr. K.P.S. Gill, who is now in Kolkata.

The whole episode is likely to lower the image of administration in the eyes of international hockey fraternity. Cedric admitted that he feared such a move was on the cards after the event, but had not bargained for this halfway through the event.

India is infamous for chopping the coaches for all the ills afflicting its hockey image, but never during an event, and that too, in the midst of such a mega tournament like the World Cup.

A little bit of restraint and diplomacy could have avoided so many unpleasant things, which, unfortunately, have only complicated the whole issue, especially at a time when the team is struggling to find its rhythm and play up to its potential. A needlessly complex situation was allowed to develop, perhaps consciously, wherein no one is the winner, and, inevitably, everyone is a loser.

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