'Target is to do well at WC'

Newly-appointed head coach of the Indian men’s hockey team Sjoerd Marijne said that his primary goal would be to instill winning mentality in the side as they prepare for a tough period in coming days.

Having endured a difficult time so far this season, Marijne stated that the side will have to forget about what’s happened and look ahead to the coming tournaments with a positive intent. “What’s happened is past, we can’t do anything about it,” said Marijne at the SAI South Centre here.

“I think, if you are sixth in the world (ranking) then you have to go into every tournament with a winning mentality, and that’s what I am looking at. Look, Argentina won the Olympic gold, they’re not world number one. So you don’t have to be number one to win tournaments. That’s our short-term goal.

“Then you also have dream goals. It’s to win the Olympics. You don’t go tournaments to be a tourist. You go to win and that’s what I want from the boys. Right now, our target is to do well at the World Cup next year and win the Asian Games gold,” he explained, laying out his plans for the team.

However, with little over two weeks to go for his first test, the Asia Cup, Marijne knows that time is at a premium if he has to get his ideas across to the teams. “It’s a really short time. I had my first training session today. First, I need to know the players and that’s what I am doing now,” he said.

“I know them by their names, but I don’t know how they are on the pitch or how they would react in a certain situation. I have to experience all that. That’s my biggest challenge now. On the positive side, this team is ready for a change and are willing to lead it. And that’s a good sign.”

The only message his predecessor Roelant Oltmans had for the incoming Indian coach was ‘be prepared to be sacked.’ But Marijne was unfazed by his fellow countryman’s comments. “Yes, I heard that,” he replied with a smile. 

“But here I am concentrating on the process. As long as I am concentrating on the process, I need not worry about it. I believe if the process is right, the results will come.”

With Hockey India being result-oriented organisation, they have sacked four head coaches in the last five years, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Marijne too follows the suit if results don’t come his way. However, the Dutchman wasn’t a worried man. “I don’t feel the pressure because my focus is on the process,” he said.

“Process for me is everyday, it’s not just Tokyo 2020. Process for me how the team can improve on a daily basis. I want to do what I do to the best of my abilities, and that’s pressure. But it’s internal, me putting myself in that situation.”