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German coaches will make a difference: Gill

August 01, 2004 21:28 IST

Indian Hockey Federation president K P S Gill is confident that the induction of two German coaches will certainly bring about a difference in the performance of the Athens-bound hockey team.

"The Indian team is shaping up well and with German coaches Oliver Kurtz and Gerhard Rach in charge, we can expect more from the lot," Gill said in Jaipur on Sunday.

Dispelling fears that the timing of Rajinder Singh's removal might affect the morale of the team, Gill said "that chapter is closed now".

He also denied that some of the younger players in the side do not like the presence of mercurial striker Dhanraj Pillay and some other senior players.

"There is nothing like that. These are things of past and every thing has been sorted out now," he said.

Gill also justified keeping the hockey team away from media glare, saying it might affect the focus of the team.

"We have the example of the Greek team which trained at a secluded place away from media glare and returned to emerge champions in the recently-concluded Euro 2004 football. The glare of media certainly affects the focus of the team," he said.

Asked if it is right to keep the players away from the limelight when the cricketers are enjoying it, Gill said "cricketers should not be compared with hockey players and cricket too is basking in limelight for past few years only".



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