Indian hockey strikers to train under Kieran Govers

Govers, who announced his retirement from international hockey last year, represented Australia in many prestigious events and is a two-time World Cup champion and an Olympic bronze medallist. With the Indian men’s hockey team yet to find a full-time chief coach, Govers will train the strikers in the core probables for seven-eight days in Bengaluru next month.

“Kieran Govers will be here next month for a short camp with the strikers. The camp is exclusively for the strikers. After the strikers’ camp, we will also have exclusive camps for defenders and goalkeepers,” a source told PTI.

“These camps are part of preparations for the Olympic Qualifiers.”

Govers was selected for the upcoming camp after Jamie Dwyer, citing personal reasons, had said no to the offer.

“I am presently undergoing a coaching course and I would love to give it back to the game in future. But currently I am tied up with my hockey stick brand and that’s why I had to turn down an offer to conduct a short camp in India next month,” Dwyer was quoted as saying by PTI.

“David John (India’s High Performance Director) asked me whether I can come to India for a short camp but the offer came pretty late and by that time my engagements were already set.”

Hockey India had earlier conducted a similar camp for the strikers in the Indian team under the guidance of another former Australian striker Glenn Turner last December.