SAI Shows ‘Red Card’: Michael Nobbs Sacked As Hockey Coach!

The Sports Authority Of India (SAI) has decided to terminate hockey coach Michael Nobbs’ services citing the national team’s non-performance. The 59-year old Australian was supposed to guide the team until the 2016 Olympics to be held in Rio De Janeiro. With this Nobbs joins the league of four former foreign coaches who mentored the national team but left with unfinished business.

Narinder Batra, Secretary General, Hockey India said that it was Nobbs’ decision to relinquish position as the coach of men’s field hockey team. Nobbs felt that he wasn’t doing justice to his job and hence took the step.

Michael Nobbs

Nobbs took charge in June 2011. Under his guidance the only notable achievements for India were booking a berth in the 2012 London Olympics after it missed the bus to Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fourth rank in Champions Trophy 2012. However, the team had finished last in London after it lost all its matches and finished sixth in World Hockey League held at Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The Poor Show in Rotterdam has made the path to World Cup difficult. India will now have to win the Asia Cup to make an appearance in the World Cup.

India’s high-performance manager Roelant Oltmans has been given the responsibility until then. Oltmans will take care of the team’s preparation for the Asia Cup at the national camp to be held in Bangalore from July 16.

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