BHUBANESWAR 12-Nov-2013 243
Kalinga Lancers, the Odisha-based new franchisee of the Hockey India League (HIL) today confirmed the appointment of Aussie Olympian and Hockey India’s chief coach Terence Walsh as their head coach for the second edition of the franchisee-based tournament, scheduled to be conducted from January 23 to February 23.
``Appointment of Walsh was finalised in a meeting here this evening. But the terms and conditions, including payment are being worked out,`` said Vishal Dev, CMD of Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCO), one of the two stake-holders of the franchisee.
But Dev dismissed a private TV channel report that the Lancers had shortlisted 30 probables for the team. ``This is not true. Team would be finalised after players` auction on November 22,`` he clarified.
Of course, Dilip Tirkey, the franchisee chief adviser, admitted that 30 players have been targeted to be purchased during the auction.
Walsh along with State Development Commissioner Injeti Srinivas, hockey Olympian and Rajya Sabha Member Dilip Tirkey were present in the meeting. Walsh, who represented Australia in three Olympics, earlier in the day, visited the new astro-turf hockey complex here at Kalinga Stadium, one of the HIL venue. He appreciated the infrastructure facility but hoped that the synthetic turf would offer even bounce.
``This looks to be a nice complex with the synthetic surface same as the one used in 2012 London Olympics. But I have to check how the ball runs and bounces on it. The stands can accommodate 10,000 spectators. Some more facilities need to be added to make it full-fledged international standard hockey stadium,’’ he said.
Speaking on the composition of the Kalinga Lancers, he said the 24-member team would chosen from a pool of 150 players. ``We will take 10 from outside Indian and 14 from within the country. We have to choose quality players to form a winning team,’’ he stated.
``We don’t need exceptionally brilliant players. We need players who have greater chances of making Kalinga Lancers a successful team,’’ he added.
Walsh was of the opinion that Hockey India League needed to improve its standard to be as good as Dutch or German League. ``The first edition of HIL had only five teams and each team got to play only 10 matches. But in Dutch League a team gets around 40 matches in two phases. Addition of the sixth team is good for HIL,’’ he observed.
Walsh declined to comment on the standard of the Indian men’s team but made it clear that he would give priority to youth. ``I have not started working with the Indian team. But I would like to include more young blood in the team. If there are two equally good players, aged 30 and 20 years, I would like to take the 20-year-old,’’ he signed off.
30 TARGETED PLAYERS (Base price in US$):
Goalkeepers: Harjit Singh (2,600), Baljit Singh (2,600).
Defenders: Gurjinder Singh (2,600), Ananda Lakra (2,600), Probodh Tirkey (12,000), Harmanpreet Singh Bal (2,600), Vickram Kanth (5,200), Manjeet Kullu (2,600), Ramon Alegre (14,000), Gonzalo Peillat (20,000), Keil Brown (25,000).
Mid-fielders: David Minz (2,600), Ramandeep Singh (2,600), Vikas Vishnu Pillay (2,600), Vikash Sharma (6,900), Vickram Swamy Vakkaliga (6,000), Aran Zalewaski (10,000), Glenn Simpson (15,000), Barry Middleton (25,000), ROC Oliva Isern (15,000).
Forwards: Affan Yousuf (2,600), Lalit Kumar Upadhyaya (2,600), Nikkin Thimmaiah Chandanda (2,600), Jongho Seo (25,000), Lucas Villa (25,000), Bharat Chikara (12,000), Trent Mitton (20,000), Russel Ford (20,000), Jason Wilson (20,000).
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PHOTO: Kalinga Lancers think-tank (Left to Right) Dilip Tirkey, Terry Walsh, Prabodh Tirkey, Lazrus Barla, William Xalxo in Bhubaneswar on Nov 12, 2013.
