Rajinder rubbishes retirement rumours

Melbourne, Mar 22 (UNI) Stunned by 'outrageous' reports claiming he was about to quit from the hockey coach's job after India's poor show in the Commonwealth Games, a visibly upset Rajinder Singh said he had no clues about the 'rumour'.

''I'm getting calls here, asking whether I am quitting the job and I don't know how the word spread. I want to say that I'm aghast at the performance of the team and quite upset but I never ever thought about quitting the job, '' an irate Rajinder told UNI here today.

''I'm sick of this. After every tournament, I'm quoted as saying things like this and this has become a farce. I did feel so after the Champions Trophy but you can't say after every tournament that I'm going to quit. It just can't go on,'' he said.

''I have been appointed by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and it's upto them to decide if they want to get rid of me. There is no reason why I should I resign,'' he said.

Clearly upset after India missed a semifinal berth in the competition, Rajinder minced no words as he attacked the senior players.

''What do you expect of a coach? Is he supposed to go there in the middle and score? My goal-shy forwards could not convert chances that came their way and you want me to quit for that.'' ''I am hugely disappointed that my team failed here and I can't escape my share of the blame. But, the coach's role is limited to work on the strategy and the players. I can't play after all.'' ''Against Pakistan, we had goals served on the platter but our forwards turned their back. We lacked consistency and the penetration and the result is before us,'' he said.

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