From Ric Charlesworth to Roelant Oltmans, most of India’s foreign hockey coaches had a tumultuous ride and the newly-appointed chief coach Graham Reid’s biggest desire is to have a “stable environment” for himself as well as his players.
Graham Reid
New Delhi:
In fact, it was the legendary Charlesworth, who goaded him to apply for the India coach’s job.
“I had a very long discussion with Ric and he thought it was good time for me to move to India. He feels I have the experience at international level to take Indian hockey forward.”
Reid said he never had any apprehensions about applying for this high-pressure job as it was a “secret desire” that he had harboured for a long time.
“To be honest, I didn’t have any apprehensions as such. I have been to India many a times and have also worked with the Hockey India League (HIL) teams. The good thing is that I will be based in Bengaluru with my wife and not fly in and out,” said Reid.
India is always regarded as a high-pressure job for any coach but Reid begs to differ.
“Pressure only comes in your mind. We should instead focus on what we can control as results will come from that,” he said.
The 54-year-old said he loves India’s style of play.
“Of course, it is a huge challenge but I am looking forward to it. When every coach starts his career, he has that secret desire to coach India and I am no exception. I love the way India play,” Reid said.
“What I want is a stable environment for me as well as the players,” Reid said.
In fact, it was the legendary Charlesworth, who goaded him to apply for the India coach’s job.
“I had a very long discussion with Ric and he thought it was good time for me to move to India. He feels I have the experience at international level to take Indian hockey forward.”
Reid said he never had any apprehensions about applying for this high-pressure job as it was a “secret desire” that he had harboured for a long time.
“To be honest, I didn’t have any apprehensions as such. I have been to India many a times and have also worked with the Hockey India League (HIL) teams. The good thing is that I will be based in Bengaluru with my wife and not fly in and out,” said Reid.
India is always regarded as a high-pressure job for any coach but Reid begs to differ.
“Pressure only comes in your mind. We should instead focus on what we can control as results will come from that,” he said.
The 54-year-old said he loves India’s style of play.
“Of course, it is a huge challenge but I am looking forward to it. When every coach starts his career, he has that secret desire to coach India and I am no exception. I love the way India play,” Reid said.