In a social media post on Thursday, Sreejesh waded into Hockey India, especially its President Dilip Tirkey, for offering the 'development team' and questioning the overall structure of the development team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"When the Hockey India president offered me the 'development team,' I asked a few simple questions:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Do we really have a development team?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Who are the players in this development group?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
What is the structure of the program?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
What camps are approved for them?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
What tournaments are they preparing for?\" said Sreejesh, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
He claimed Hockey India Prez had no answers to his questions. \"There were no answers to any of these questions\".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sreejesh termed the offer of the goalkeeper coach's job as a demotion after winning a Junior World Cup bronze medal as chief coach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"And about goalkeeper coaching\u2026 after winning a Junior World Cup bronze medal as chief coach, making me a goalkeeper coach again \u2014 is that considered a promotion or a demotion?\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sreejesh also continued to question Hockey India for opting for foreign coaches instead of giving opportunities to Indians.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He said, \"4 teams. 6 foreign coaches. 3 foreign strength & conditioning coaches. 1 foreign video analyst. 2 foreign goalkeeper coaches (visiting). 1 foreign sports psychologist (visiting).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Lucky that at least we still have 1 Indian coach in each team ( <\/p>\r\n\r\n
as per the Hockey India app). Junior team is already taken. Maybe now it\u2019s time for U18 too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sreejesh also took umbrage at Hockey India officials terming him \"inexperienced\" for the coaching job, as he took over the role soon after retiring as a player after the Paris Olympics in 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal are doing a great job, but maybe the president feels they are still \u201cnot experienced enough\u201d or \u201cqualified enough\u201d to coach Indian teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"So can we expect more foreign coaches there as well? he questioned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal are doing a great job, but maybe the president feels they are still \u201cnot experienced enough\u201d or \u201cqualified enough\u201d to coach Indian teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Thursday morning, Hockey India named Frederic Soyez as junior men's team coach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n