India need a seperate defence coach: Dilip Tirkey

Former captain Dilip Tirkey, who was also one of the best defenders of his time, reckons that demands of modern hockey are such that Indian hockey team requires a separate defence coach who need not be a foreigner. Hockey India have initiated a process to find a goalkeeping coach for the side for the Asia Cup. Tirkey said it will benefit Indian hockey if services of a defence coach are also sought for the preparations.

‘Defence is very important in modern hockey and I have seen lapses in past few tournaments. Defenders and mid-fielders should work hard on it. Defending is not as easy as it appears,’ said Tirkey.
‘I think India need a defence coach. Chief coach can not handle everything. Modern hockey is very different as tackling is not easy now.  There is an offside rule. A defence expert can teach them technical things like positioning, tackling, re-tackling, footwork, marking in a better way,’ the veteran, who was called ‘the wall of Indian hockey’, said.

He also said that an Indian can be chosen for the job as there are many former players who were great defenders. ‘I don’t think that we need a foreign coach for this. We have former players like Pargat Singh who had great defending skills,’ he said. Former coach Micheal Nobbs was keen on developing players as all rounders who could play at any positions. ‘We cannot afford that due to less class players.’