After becoming the only man to win the hockey World Cup both as player and coach, Australian hockey legend Ric Charlesworth offered some advice to the Indian team.
The former technical director of the Indian hockey team felt the hosts have improved in their style of play under coach Jose Brasa but need to formulate three facets to become a potent force in world hockey again.
"According to me India need to do three things. First, set long term goals, then play as many international matches as possible and, thirdly, privatise the game, because India has plenty of resources."
"They have very good players in the team but need to work on defence. The Indian game fits well with ours but they need organisation in the structure," Charlesworth said.
Australia's triumph on the Indian soil must be very satisfying for Charlesworth, who was unceremoniously ousted from Indian hockey.
Asked whether he is open for coaching India again, Charlesworth replied, "I am the coach of the Australian side and I have a contract till the 2012 London Olympics. I moved my family and came to India hoping to make difference but, unfortunately, it didn't work out. So I was very disappointed."
Australia defeated double defending champions Germany 2-1 at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Saturday evening to register their second world title after 24 years.
Incidentally, Charlesworth was the skipper of the Australian team that won the World Cup in 1986 in London. On Saturday he again emerged on the victorious side albeit this time as coach.
"It's better to win the World Cup as a player than as a coach, because the coach only gives tactical inputs and it is the players who implement them on the ground," a visibly delighted Charlesworth said.
"But I am very pleased. We played good game. We controlled the game throughout the match. We played the best hockey in the tournament," he said.
He was, however, of the view that his side needs improvement in some aspects of the game.
"We created chances but we need to work on finishing. The team is being built for the last 15 months but not solid yet. We are in the point of building a very good team," Charlesworth said.
Interestingly, Charlesworth preferred to be out of the dug out in the final, leaving the team's charge to assistant coach Graham Reid. But the Australian said it has nothing to do with superstition.
"I am too noisy on the bench. Today we needed a calm and quite atmosphere in the bench so I decided to sit in the stands. Moreover, you can read the game better sitting in the stands. It has no relation with superstition," he said.
