Indians look for overnight results: Oltmans

Roelant Oltmans saw it coming once he was done with his presentation on Indian hockey on Friday. The 63-year-old Dutchman, although disappointed, has taken his sacking in his stride. Like several of his predecessors, Oltmans blamed the demands of Indian administrators for overnight results as one of the reasons for the break up.

Oltmans’ over four-year association with Indian hockey, fetched India the Asian Champions Trophy in Malaysia last year, bronze medal at Hockey World League Final (2015), silver at the Champions Trophy (2016), silver (2016) and bronze (2017) at Azlan Shah Cup. He was the High Performance director when Indian women qualified for the Olympics last year.

“Well, in sports such things happen. Specially when you are the coach of Indian hockey, these things are bound to happen. I at least lasted for four and half years! We have had some good achievements, but it is their (Hockey India) decision and I accept that,” Oltmans told DH.

“I had a long-term view for the team. I was quite convinced we were headed in the right direction. But then they were not impressed. The problem is there is not much patience in the country’s administrators and they look for overnight results. That cannot happen, and that cannot happen even in the future.”

The Dutchman also took exception that he was dismissed merely as process coach. It is believed the committee members felt the Indian team was not able to deliver short term results and podium finishes at international events. India’s sixth-place finish in World Hockey League Semifinal in London, where it lost to lower ranked teams like Malaysia and Canada, proved to be the final nail in the coffin.

“For anything to succeed, one needs process. It is followed world over. I can say that because I have coached world champion sides. You cannot find players and results till you follow a process. But it is not that we did not have results. There were several highlights during my tenure be it the Asian Champion Trophy or bronze in World League Final,” said Oltmans, whose contract was extended to 2020 following the triumph last year at Asian Champions Trophy.

India’s next major international assignment will be the Asia Cup in Bangladesh from October 11-22 before hosting the final of Hockey World League in December this year in Odisha. It will then have Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, followed by India hosting the World Cup.

“I told them during my presentation we are aiming to do well in 2017 and 2018 and it will give boys the opportunities for podium finishes. But our opinions didn’t match for sure. I feel for the boys. But I saw it coming after Friday. Having said that, I absolutely loved working here. I am not happy the way it has ended. But I will move on and someday we will meet at some other side of hockey field. I wish Indian hockey the very best,” Oltmans said.