Michael Nobbs keeps his comments strictly to the sport. You can play around with words, ask him loaded questions but all that you get is – “let’s stay with the sport.” Eight weeks in India with an Asian Champions Trophy under his belt, Nobbs knows the areas where he should tread and those that he shouldn’t. Following is an interview with Indian hockey coach Michael Nobbs:
Q: After Ordos, you must have taken stock and analysed what is the road ahead?
Nobbs: After we won the Asian Champions Trophy, I think we had reached 40 percent of the target that we had ear-marked. Penalty corners, game plan, everything was analysed and we keep constantly looking for opportunities to assess where are we headed for. Of course, it’s easy to say the target is to qualify for the London Olympics. But one shouldn’t waver from the focus that overall development of hockey is a must in India.
Q: What was that one quality that stood out at Ordos?
Nobbs: The never-say-die attitude of the team. The fact that we were down 0-2 against Pakistan and we came back to win says a lot about the team and the hunger the boys have. They played with a fervor and never gave up.
Q: As a coach it must have been a learning curve for you too?
Nobbs: I am in a different culture. Things move differently here. The skill level is different here. I remember when we played we looked up to India and Pakistan and learnt from there. We gave our best in those matches. I think India is doing the same. I am trying to motivate them to push hard and increase playing levels. Trying to achieve that as a coach is remarkable.
Q: Is the Super 9’s the priority at the moment?
Nobbs: No. We are focusing on the regular 11-a-side. Yes, we are training extra for the super 9’s. But the focus and the target remains the Olympic Qualifiers.
Q: Is the Super 9’s helping the team?
Nobbs: Yes, very much. We are playing more attacking hockey. The guys are scoring goals and in almost every training match we score 6-15 goals. It helps them develop the attacking skills.
Q: How are the players taking it?
Nobbs: They love it. My opinion is that the future of hockey is Super 9’s. The crowds and the fans will love to see goals being scored. It is the T-20 of hockey.
Q: You must be glad that the matches are being telecast Live in India?
Nobbs: It will be exciting to see the Indian team Live in India. For the fans, it’s going to be very exciting to watch their stars play. And they would see some world class hockey being played.
Q: Has the win at Ordos put extra pressure on you?
Nobbs: Yes and No. The expectations of everybody will be higher and it’s good that they expect the team to win. They will be times when we will lose but then that’s sport. We have our goals to secure and shouldn’t look at every match like a pressure situation. We cannot and no team can win every match.
Q: What would be the make-up of the team that is going to play the regular style and the Super 9’s?
Nobbs: At this stage we don’t know. In fact, Sandeep Singh has been playing as a centre-forward in the 9’s format and scoring goals. We will have practice matches in Australia and we will try and play different players in varying positions.
Q: Sandeep Singh and Sardara are back in the team. Are you happy with their inclusion?
Nobbs: I am happy. Every player has to be given an opportunity. We want to qualify for the Olympics and we need the best available talent to be able to do that. If they help us qualify for the Olympics, what can be better than that?
Q: So nobody is carrying any extra baggage – you or the players?
Nobbs: I don’t think so. Both of them said we want to play the Olympics and want to represent India. These guys have been putting in extra hours. I still remember Ric Charlesworth always used to be the last player off the pitch. Sandeep Singh always puts in extra hours of training.
Q: With the Super 9’s and those few matches in Australia, is the team ready for the Champions Challenger in November. Remember, if you win, you play the Champions Trophy in 2012?
Nobbs: It’s a really short preparation. The winner goes through to the Champions Trophy and in such a tournament, anything can happen. You could have a bad day; a bad umpiring decision could be disastrous. But we still have the matches and we better utilize them to the most.
Q: Between the Champions Challenger and the Olympic Qualifiers, you have a couple of months. Any training schedule?
Nobbs: I am trying to fix up some matches for the national side. We are speaking to a few teams. I need to give games to the youngsters. They need some high-level matches to prepare for the pressure of the qualifiers.
Q: Are you happy with the World Series Hockey being planned in December?
Nobbs: At this stage, I am only looking at the Olympic Qualifiers. I don’t know and neither do I want to comment. I leave the politics of the sport to everybody else. I am here to coach only.
Q: What the three things that are important to you in preparation for the national team?
Nobbs: Fitness is very important and the bio-mechanics side of it. We are improving on a daily basis and we have to keep raising fitness levels. Secondly, we have to improve the style. We have to impose our style on the other teams like the Aussies do. To do that we have to increase the fitness levels. Thirdly, we need enough high quality matches. To be the best, you have to play the best.
Q: As a person, what is the most positive aspect you have encountered in the last eight weeks you have been in India? What is that one thing that gives you hope?
Nobbs: The people of this nation are enthusiastic about the sport. Their support has been overwhelming. They feel strongly about the national sport. I think they take pride in the fact that their hockey team has won. Where ever I have gone they have offered their congratulations.