Since its inception, the Premier Hockey League (PHL) has been India’s window to innovations. Surprisingly, the brain behind this modernisation is not an Indian but a foreigner — Maurits Hendricks, the coach of the Spanish national hockey team. Credited with bringing foreign players to India for the mega event, the former Dutch hockey player is now even thinking of getting foreign coaches for different teams in the next edition of PHL. “I am planning to get some foreign coaches. If the organisers and managements of participating teams agree the move could prove beneficial to the event and Indian hockey as well,” said Maurits, who arrived in the city to see the finals. The FIH’s Master coach, who took Spain to their first Champions Trophy triumph in December 2005 at Lahore, also suggested a radically different version for the tie-breaker this time. The new format pits the attacker against the goalkeeper in which the former is given eight seconds to run with the ball from the 25-yard line and take an attempt at the goals unlike the penalty strokes. “How do you find the penalty shootout format? I borrowed it from ice hockey. This gives both attacker and goalkeeper an equal chance to score or defend as it involves different skills. I was surprised to find that four Sher-e-Jalandhar players, who are generally dribblers of the ball, failed to score in the shootout against Orissa Steelers the other day,” Maurits remarked. The current PHL has also seen some of the top names like Australians Jamie Dwyer and Brent Livermoore, Spaniard Santi Freixa, Argentine Mario Almada in action along with the top Indian and Pakistan players. “I have been trying to get at least four-five big international hokey stars for PHL sine the inaugural edition. You can see some more faces, like the German hockey players in the coming years,” said Maurits. The Dutch coach, who has a contract with the Spain till the end of 2008, reiterated that he has now plans for taking over the Indian squad. “I have a goal to see Spain at the top of the podium in the Beijing Olympics (2008). I haven’t thought about coaching India, right now I am committed totally to Spain,” said the coach, who has seen Spain jump from 11th to third in world rankings. When asked about what was the reason for Spain’s rise in world hockey, Maurits said: “The results were not achieved overnight. I have been working with the team for the past many years and have brought in changes gradually,” he quipped. When asked to comment on how PHL has helped the Indian hockey, the coach said each edition has thrown a few talented Indian players into prominence. “You can see each league has given three-four players, who have proven their talent at the big stage. This is the biggest gain for Indian hockey,” he said pointing to the plus-points of PHL. Dynamos beat Shers 3-2, in race for third spot Chandigarh: Already out of the title race, Chandigrh Dynamos secured a consolation victory over arch-rivals Shere-e-Jalandhar to stay in contention for the third spot in the Premier Hockey League on Monday. Braving rains, the Dynamos triumphed 3-2 to jump to the third spot. The Dynamos, who were runners-up last year, finished their league fixtures with 17 points from 12 matches with a goal difference of plus one. Bangalore Lions are placed at the fourth spot with 17 points from 11 games. Ravipal Singh, Jugraj Singh and Prabhjot Singh scored for the Dynamos, while Gagan Ajit Singh and Santi Freixa got the goals for the Shers.
