It has emerged that 25 players (18 and seven standbys) have been selected to represent India in the Asia Cup hockey which is scheduled to hold next month out of 48 probables.
The men’s hockey camp at the Sports Authority of India Southern Centre witnessed the trials that were conducted on Friday and Saturday. High performance director Roelant Oltmans, who is in-charge of the team currently, assured that Hockey India would proclaim the team shortly.
Oltmans disclosed that the remaining players would be slashed from the camp. He described on Monday that the trials went well and they saw some progress made. Amazingly, the boys are beginning to acquaint with the latest structure and that is a good sign. Of course, it is one thing doing all the stuff on the training ground and another applying it into practice.
The veteran Dutch coach reported that the team is improving. He asserted that the team is displaying glimpses of the style but they should maintain that level for 70 minutes. He added that they require having good fitness and communication to achieve that. He stated that the present set has not been trained with ball machines or rebound nets. Particularly, these things are vital as it will help develop certain areas of their game.
However, the new goalkeeping coach Dave Staniforth will join the camp on 10th August. Oltmans informed that the goalkeepers need special attention. Truly, they have quality goalkeepers but they have to identify young goalkeepers and train them properly. In addition, the goalkeeping coach would be working with the juniors and that he will just fine-tune things for the Asia Cup next month.
