Ranchi Rhinos name coaches and support staff for Hockey India League

NEW   DELHI, December 15, 2012: Gregg Clark, who is currently the head coach of South Africa men team, has been appointed as head coach of Ranchi Rhinos, one of the franchisees of Hockey India League starting from January 16 next.

Clark has been coaching the national side from the past 7 years. During this period his team has participated in Olympic Games 2008 and 2012, World Cup 2010 and  Commonwealth Games 2010. As a player, Gregg Clark has played more than 250 internationals for South Africa.

“I am looking forward in working with Ranchi Rhinos as a coach and I am hungry to win this inaugural tournament. India has best hockey talent available in the world which we will utilize to build a strong team in the inaugural season of HIL” said Clark.

Baljit Singh Saini (two times Olympian & Arjun award winner), who is also the head coach of Indian junior men hockey team has been appointed as a coach of the team.

Under Saini’s guidance Indian junior team has recently won silver medal at the Sultan of Johar Cup in Malaysia.

David Ian John, a vastly experienced     exercise physiologist from Australia, who worked with Indian national men’s hockey team for almost 18 months, will be the exercise physiologist of the team. During his tenure our Indian team has won medals in tournaments like Asian Champions Trophy, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and many others.

David has landed in the city this morning from Australia for participation in the Players’ Auction to be held on December 16.

David Staniforth, who is currently the goalkeeping coach of South African national side, has also joined our team as a goalkeeping coach and video analyst.

Suresh Chauhan, co-owners of Ranchi franchisee and the leader of  the Ranchi team said     that the Ranchi Rhinos is born tough to win. “Ranchi is rich in hockey talent and this is the reason behind our decision to buy Ranchi team. We will look forward to promote hockey at grass root level not only in Ranchi but also in entire Jharkhand”, he said.

“We would like to thank FIH and Hockey India for taking the initiative of starting Hockey India League and giving us an opportunity to serve and save our national game-hockey, that has been neglected so far” he said.

Vikram Jain co-owners of Ranchi Rhinos based at Bangalore said that the people of Jharkhand were very happy that we had taken this effort to make hockey popular in State and they were excited about the HIL “Our aim and object is to nurture more and to produce more players of International standard with scientific training coaches available”, he said.

CEO-cum Team Manager of Ranchi Rhinos, Banti Singh, who hails from Kolkata and an ex-national hockey player said, “Appointment of the coaches and trainers is an important step towards ensuring that a balanced and best young team is selected. We are looking to draw from rich experience of technical support of our Indian coach and overseas experts as well to build a strong, aggressive and hungry team to win the tournament”.

Press release