Former players today termed Hockey India's decision to sack Australian coach Michael Nobbs a "step in the right direction" and backed Olympian M K Kaushik to once again take over the reigns of the men's national team.
Captain of India's last World Cup-winning side in 1975, Ajitpal Singh said Nobbs should have been shown the door after the London Olympics debacle last year.
"This sacking should have come much earlier. It is a step in the right direction. We finished 12 out of 12 teams in London which is disturbing and shameful for a hockey playing nation like India, which possess a rich history," the skipper of the World Cup-winning team told PTI.
"He (Nobbs) has not been able to produce results. So, he doesn't deserve to get a longer run.
"The players have also told me in the past that they prefer (Jose) Brasa over Nobbs. Brasa was no doubt a better coach than Nobbs," he added.
Ajitpal welcomed Hockey India's decision to induct Kaushik in the coaching staff of the men's team.
"Kaushik is a good coach. I would welcome his appointment. We have spent a lot on foreign coaches without desired results, so why not we give Kaushik the charge of the team," said Ajitpal, a member of India's bronze-medal winning teams in 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics.
"He has already proved his credentials as a coach. He coached India to gold medal in 1998 Asia Games in Bangkok," added the Padma Shri awardee.
Former India captain Zafar Iqbal seconded Ajitpal's views.
"Hockey India made the right decision by sacking Nobbs and recommending Kaushik for a coach's post with the team. Under Nobbs the performance of our team has dropped. So question doesn't arise why he should be kept," Zafar said.
"There is hardly any improvement to show.
