*Gold Coast:* “India is a closed chapter now,” said the country’s formerhockey coach Roelant Oltmans, who is now in charge of the Pakistan team butwas inundated with questions on his previous team after their CommonwealthGames clash here.
“It’s a happy chapter but it’s closed now,” he asserted twice over for theeffect when there were more questions on the team he used to coach than theone he is coaching right now.
India and Pakistan played out a 2-2 draw, a massive disappointment forIndia, who were expected to romp to an easy win owing to Pakistan’s recentpoor form.
The legendary Dutchman was shown the door in September last year for lackof results by the Indian federation despite a decent record. He took overas Pakistan’s coach last month, a second stint for him across the borderfrom India.
Speaking about today’s match, Oltmans was pleased with the way the Pakistanteam held its nerves and converted a penalty corner in the dying seconds tosnatch a draw.
“India punished our mistakes very well. But I think we were not too badeither,” he said, highlighting the lack of expected gulf in the quality ofthe two sides today.
When he was asked whether the Indians had a bad day at work, Oltmans seemedquite flustered and stated, “I don’t know. I don’t know whether they had agood day or a bad day. They obviously made a few mistakes.”
He also rejected the view that his long stint with the Indian team giveshim the edge while coaching against the side.
“Of course I know a couple of things but they also know how I think. Idon’t think it’s too much of a factor for me,” he said.