MADRAS, 30 September 2003 — A heated public row between India’s national hockey coach and captain yesterday embarrassed the team as they returned from their weekend Asia Cup victory over Pakistan.
The Indians, who beat their archrivals 4-2 in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to win their maiden Asia Cup title, were swarmed by a battery of TV cameras and reporters as they arrived at the airport here.
But as captain Dhanraj Pillay beckoned reporters for a chat, coach Rajinder Singh reprimanded the veteran striker, saying that players were barred from talking to the media without permission from the team management.
“Stop this nonsense,” a visibly angry Pillay shouted at the coach. “I am speaking on behalf of the team, I am not seeking any publicity for myself.”
Pillay and Rajinder were seen making physical gestures and screaming at each other as the other players watched the altercation in stunned silence. Television cameras recorded the spat, which ended when Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) Secretary K. Jyotikumaran stepped in to cool tempers.
“It was a small thing, nothing serious,” Jyotikumaran said, but IHF sources said there will be an investigation.
Relations between the players and the coach had soured before the tournament when Rajinder lashed out at the team for being distracted by the media attention.
“I don’t think the team is in the right frame of mind to play in the tournament,” Rajinder, a former international, had told AFP before departing for Malaysia.
“A few players are peeved at not getting commercial endorsements, others are more concerned about talking to the media than concentrating on their game. This is no way to prepare for such a major tournament.”
