Newly-appointed chief coach Joaquim Carvalho has promised an improved showing from the Indian hockey team in the coming days in order to qualify for next year's Olympics.
The former Olympian said he has worked on each of the players named in probables list and would inspire the team to make it to the Beijing Games.
"I have done a detailed analysis of each player and you will see a different Indian team perform in the coming tournaments, starting with the Azlan Shah. The final goal is qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," he said in a statement on Friday.
"In modern-day sport, there is no Goliath who can walk and play freely. There is always a David and right now our team will go into the field as Davids'," he said, adding "our aim will be to play aggressive hockey, with hard running and not giving the opponent too much respect."
Without mentioning any reason, Carvalho said India's debacle at the World Cup and Asian Games was not due to lack of talent but because of other factors.
"Going by the World Cup and Asian Games results, our performances went on dipping not due to lack of talent, but due to other factors which we have shortlisted and will be worked upon by the entire coaching staff," he said.
Expressing confidence on his ability, the Indian Oil coach said: "I am no magician, nor do I have any magicians in my coaching team. We do have an experienced team of thinkers who have played modern-day hockey and have kept themselves abreast of developments. My years of hockey experience, as a player, coach and talent spotter will be used to the fullest, coupled with inputs from the support staff."
Carvalho said there's a lot of confusion in the minds of players as far as playing modern day hockey is concerned.
"Indian players are talented, hard-working and have the desire to perform. They have come up playing the traditional Indian style with a little bit of withdrawn halves. A lot of confusion still persists in their mindset. It is my duty to bring out the best in them and make them thinking players," he said.
A member of the 1984 Olympics and '86 World Cup team, Carvalho said continuity in coaching methods should be there to create a pool of players as back-up for the national team.
"We have skillful and destructive players, experienced hands and youngsters with raw talent. We will do our best to mould them into one unit.
"Continuity in coaching methods is one way to get there. The appointment of technical director and technical adviser to the senior and junior groups of players and co-ordination between the technical advisers will be useful in creating a backup of probable for the national squad and ensure that the right type of players are selected,'" he said.
Carvalho said he would seek opinions of senior players while preparing the team strategy.
"The senior players on the national squad will form a core group whose advise will be taken to draw plans and form team strategy. There may be initial hiccups due to new faces in the probables list. But I am sure we will overcome these hurdles and play aggressive, effective hockey," he concluded.
