Even before the Asian Games bronze medals were given a place of pride in the trophy cabinet, Indian captain Rajpal Singh's accusation that coach Jose Brasa humiliated him and never gave him respect shocked the hockey fraternity. Rajpal went onto say that he was only used for the toss. In New Delhi for the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey Tournament, Rajpal spoke about his captaincy, Brasa and the divisions in the team.

Q: You said Brasa humiliated you?
A:Instructions were given to me that I should not speak to any players on or off the field on playing tactics. I was also never started in the playing X1. But always from the bench.

Q: Didn't all this create divisions in the team?
A: If I had said all this before the World Cup, CWG or the Asian Games, there might have been a division. The team would have had problems. Maybe even the medals would not have been won.

Q: But didn't all of this affect performance?
A: It didn't. We won a medal for the first time in the Commonwealth Games and then had a bronze in the Asian Games. It was a good team performance apart from that unlucky defeat to Malaysia.

Q: Aren't you players trying to retain Brasa?
A: He never came because of a player. He is not going because someone told him too. He contract is over.

Q: Is the team now wanting an Indian coach?
A: I think the coach should be good. Foreign or Indian doesn't matter. I think the Sports Authority of India has enough time to look for a coach.

Q: Former coach Bhaskaran said you were never given the best team. Was there a selection problem?
A: I don't think there was a selection problem. For the first time as a player I have seen the same team retained. I give credit to the selectors.

Q: Did Brasa have a free hand?
A: I think he had a free hand. His signature was always there with the team list. He was always in the selection meetings.

Q: Are you going to quit as captain? Have you decided?
A: I will speak to Hockey India. I don't want other captains to have the same experience. A coach should respect his captain.

Q: You were never involved in any other areas as captain?
A: I was only used for the toss. I don't think I did anything else.