Brasa appointed Indian men's hockey coach

Bhopal:

Spain's master coach Jose Brasa has been appointed as the new chief coach of the Indian men's hockey team.

"Brasa will soon join the Indian men's hockey team as the chief coach," Joint Secretary of Union Ministry of Sports, Pravir Krishna said here on Thursday.

He also informed that Brasa was handed a two-year contract, but didn't rule out the chances of his agreement being extended till the 2012 London Olympics.

"An agreement between the the Government of India and Brasa was signed recently in this regard for a period of two years, till the next Asiad in 2011," Krishna said.

He said all the required approvals have already been given by the Government to facilitate Brasa's appointment.

The IOA-appointed ad-hoc committee first interviewed Brasa three months back in January during which the Spaniard put forth a list of demands, including a free hand in running the team, the need for technology and a good physiotherapist, and a support staff of 14 people, including two from Spain.

Meanwhile, sources in the Sports Ministry said that all his demands were accepted by the Sports Authority of India after the Ministry intervened and negotiated with the Spaniard on behalf of the ad-hoc committee.

The official also informed that Brasa would be coming to India early next week to formally take charge of his duties.