SAI take on Hockey India over Oltmans and Walsh's HIL coaching role

Sports Authority of India and Hockey India (HI) are on a collision course over HI’s High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans and chief coach Terry Walsh signing contracts with Hockey India League franchises.

SAI has stated in no uncertain terms that the duo could lose their salaries for the entire duration of the high profile, FIH-sanctioned Hockey India League if they do not immediately dissociate themselves from the event.

SAI has said that the contracts of both the foreign coaches, who are drawing salaries from it, do not permit them to take coaching assignments with any “commercial league”.

“They are employed by SAI and we are paying them their monthly salaries. How could they take up some other assignment with a commercial league when their contracts do not allow them from taking up any other job. It’s not professionalism. It’s unethical,” SAI secretary Neeraj Kansal told PTI.

“They have been hired by SAI for a full-time role and they are not allowed to participate in these types of leagues. We have an option of discontinuing their salaries for that particular period when they are engaged with HIL franchises. It is simple, if they don’t disassociate themselves from their franchises they can’t take salary from us for the period of their HIL engagement. But that’s the last option,” he informed.

Walsh and Oltmans draw hefty salaries from the SAI, Rs 7.73 lakh and Rs 9.28 lakh respectively per month. Walsh has been appointed the chief coach of Kalinga Lancers while Oltmans is the head coach of Uttar Pradesh Wizards.

Asked if both stand to lose their contracts with the SAI if they continue coaching their franchises, Kansal only replied: “Let`s see. We will look at it.”

Kansal thinks that the two coaches should be spending time at the ‘Coach Development Programme’ at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala during that period to help educate SAI coaches about the nuances of the game.

“You should be teaching our coaches at NIS Patiala rather than taking up a job with private entity. You can`t be paid for both” he said.

When contacted Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra on the issue, he simply said: “We have all the permissions from SAI.”