Mukesh Kumar. — File photo: G. Krishnaswamy

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HYDERABAD: For triple Olympian Nandnuri Mukesh Kumar, the third edition of the Premier Hockey League Championship, starting in Chennai from January 4, is a major challenge towards staking a claim for a bigger coaching assignment.

Speaking to The Hindu, the 36-year-old said that he considered being coach of Hyderabad Sultans, the winner of the first edition in Hyderabad, was a prestigious job.

"After being the coach of India juniors (under-21) to Bangladesh sometime back, this should be a big test for me," he confessed.

Commenting on his team, Mukesh feels that it would be too premature to say about the prospects.

"The fact is that we have three foreigners, including the Pakistanis Shakeel Abbasi and Tariq Aziz in the team, we have to work a lot on first finding the right combination," he pointed out.

No comparison

It may be recalled here that the Sultans outfit, which won the first edition, had illustrious names like Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed, Ahmed Alam and was led by Dilip Tirkey.

"There is no comparison of this team to that champion side," he confesses.

It was also a tribute to the efficacy of Narinderpal Singh as the coach who ensured that the best of Asian hockey blended on the field to come up with impressive performances consistently.

It is a different matter that he doesn't figure anywhere in the scheme of things now.

Mukesh, a right-winger par excellence, is not averse to being coach of Indian team if offered that job. "I should treat that as the biggest challenge of my career," he said frankly.

"I do agree with the former Olympians taking out `dharnas' against the Asian Games debacle but it is imperative to introspect as to how many of them have contributed to the sport at their respective State-level for its betterment," he asks.

But does he consider the timing of the PHL after the Doha Asian Games appropriate considering the mood of the hockey lovers?

"It is time for serious introspection no doubt. But, we have to take everything in our stride and look forward. It is not too late if the IHF comes up with a scientific training programme to tap and groom young talent with a long-term objective. The biggest flaw now is that not many coaches across the country, particularly in traditional hockey centres, are not teaching basics to the youngsters. Unless you are strong in that you cannot produce a player," he explained.

"So, the PHL will only help revive the sagging morale of the players and administrators," he asserted.

Mukesh also pointed out that the biggest problem is favouritism in selections and unless merit is given the weightage, Indian hockey will continue to suffer, he cautioned.

By all means, Mukesh feels that the third PHL championship should be the perfect platform to rebuild the confidence across the hockey fraternity itself.

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