Brasa to join India's Asia Cup squad in Malaysia

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) India's new hockey coach Jose Brasa has at last signed a contract with the Sports Authority of India, and president of the Indian Olympic Association Suresh Kalmadi is expected to make the formal announcement at a press conference here Tuesday.

Brasa, whose term is up to the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, will leave here Tuesday to join the Indian squad for the Asia Cup in Malaysia.

International Hockey Federation's (FIH) master coach Brasa arrived here Monday and met Sports Minister M.S.Gill and ad-hoc commitee officials before signing the contract.

An official of the ad hoc committee told IANS that Brasa signed the contract after meeting the minister.

Brasa, however, refused to say anything on the contract, not even whether he has signed on the dotted line or not.

It is now public knowledge that Brasa had demanded an annual salary of Euros 90,000 ($119,626), tenure till the 2012 Olympics and a two-member support staff of his choice.

After negotiations, the salary has been pegged at Euros 84,000 ($111,726) and the tenure till the 2010 Asian Games with the proviso of extension after periodical assessment. His choice of physical trainer is David Perez, whose annual salary has been fixed at Euros 60,000 ($80,000).

Brasa, who feels that the Indians are a talented bunch, told IANS: 'They are skillful players and my aim will be to mould them into a medal-winning lot. They have done well in the past couple of months and I hope they will continue in the same vein.'

Gill promised all help from the ministry to Brasa.

'I am hopeful that he will take Indian hockey to greater heights. We will give him all possible support.'