Chandigarh: Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh, who called time on his international career recently, is planning to coach premier European club teams in near future.
“After taking permission from Hockey India and Haryana government, I will start coaching. I am planning to work with clubs in premier European leagues,” Sardar, who has played in Dutch and German leagues, said Friday.
While there has been a demand for foreign coaches in Indian hockey, Sardar admitted that communication is a problem as not every player is fluent in english.
“Definitely, communication gap does exist at times. During a match, the two minute break after each quarter is very crucial for the players and during this time, the analyses the game. When he (foreign coach) speaks in English, usually there not much time left for translation,” Sardar explained the practical difficulty.
Having confirmed his retirement Wednesday, Sardar however, reiterated that he has not been forced into retirement by anyone but admitted that the semifinal loss to Malaysia at the Asian Games was a trigger.
“I had initially thought to play till 2020 Tokyo Games with the kind of fitness I have. But after losing this match (semifinal in Asian games), I talked to coaches and senior players and then I consulted my family members and decided on retirement. It was a tough call but it comes in every player’s life,” Sardar informed.
HI lauds Sardar
Hockey India (HI) congratulated Friday the just-retired Sardar on his glorious international career and said he was a ‘true ambassador of the game’.
“In the best and worst of times, Sardar Singh has exemplified steely determination. His qualities and dedication as a player makes him a true ambassador of the game,” HI president Rajinder Singh said in a statement.
“He has inspired an entire generation of youngsters with his performances and as captain. He led the team to one of the biggest victories at the 2014 Asian Games. His contribution to the sport will be cherished and Hockey India would like to congratulate him for his achievements and wish him the very best for his future endeavours,” he added.