Coach airs support for seniors

Reacting to national selector Aslam Sher Khan’s comment on senior players on Monday that they “either perform or take a graceful exit”, coach in-charge Harendra Singh backed all the seniors in the team and said they were performing up to the mark, reports Saurabh Duggal.

Reacting to national selector Aslam Sher Khan’s comment on senior players on Monday that they “either perform or take a graceful exit”, coach in-charge Harendra Singh backed all the seniors in the team and said they were performing up to the mark.

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Not only that, Harendra even questioned Aslam’s authority. “This is not an occasion to comment on the seniors. By putting pressure on senior players what point does he (Aslam) want to prove,” said Harendra speaking to media-persons after the match.

Harendra even questioned Aslam’s stature saying that a person like him, who didn’t have his own standing, had no right to comment on team issues. “Apart from being a former Member of Parliament what is Aslam’s contribution to Indian hockey,” said the coach in-charge.

Aslam Sher Khan had told HT on Monday that the selectors were watching senior players in the ongoing Punjab Gold Cup keenly and if they didn’t perform up to the mark, they should make a graceful exit.

“After Aslam’s comment, all the senior players in the team got de-motivated and it was very difficult for the coach to make them play today,” said skipper Sandeep Singh.

He added that the main reason for the team’s dispirited show in the first half was Aslam’s comment.