Walsh agrees to become Kalinga Lancers head coach

Hockey India’s chief coach Terence Walsh has accepted the offer to become the head coach of Kalinga Lancers, the Odisha-based new team for the second edition of the Hockey India League (HIL), scheduled to be conducted at different venues of the country next year from January 23 to February 23.

``Walsh has agreed to take up the job. But the terms and conditions of his appointment are yet to be finalized. The deal is expected to be made official in a week’s time,’’ disclosed Kalinga Lancers chief adviser and former India hockey captain Dilip Tirkey today.

``Walsh has vast experience of coaching and represented Australia in three Olympics. Under his guidance Kalinga Lancers can be a formidable team in the HIL,’’ felt Tirkey, himself a hockey Olympian and Rajya Sabha Member.

Kalinga Lancers, a joint venture of state-owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCO) and Coal India subsidiary, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), emerged as the the sixth franchisee of the HIL 2014 earlier this week. It will have a total of 24 players, which include 14 Indians and 10 foreigners in its rank. Lazrus Barla, also a hockey Olympian, has already been appointed as the assistant coach.

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