KULALA LUMPUR, March 2: Indian coach Cedric D’Souza was sacked Saturday by the Indian Hockey Federation following a string of defeats at the on-going World Cup hockey tournament.

D’Souza, 40, who took over the reigns of the national side last year told journalists that he had been first conveyed of the IHF decision through team manager KGS Alva. However later he was asked by K. Jotikumaran, the Indian hockey secretary, to stay with the team but hand over the charge to assistant coach C.R. Kumar.

“This implies that my services are not required and I am catching the first flight home”, said D’Souza who helped India to the Champions Challenge victory in Kuala Lumpur last December.

“They (IHF) have taken their decision and I have taken mine,” said the coach who saw his side crash to defeats against Korea, Malaysia and England while drawing one with Japan at the start of the tournament. India, until Saturday morning had only a point from four Pool B games.

Alva first leaked the news of the sacking to the Indian media after which D’Souza gave vent to his feelings: “It is humiliating for me to stay. If they want to look for a scapegoat they can find one but as far as I am concerned I am going back.”

Devnen Singh, another assistant coach with the team and doctor Kannan Puzalendhi have also decided to go back, the sacked coach disclosed while adding that it was solely their decision and the two officials had not been persuaded by him.

D’Souza said he could foresee his sacking but had not thought such a thing would happen during the course of the tournament. It is the first time that an Indian coach has been given the sack halfway through an event. The IHF president KPS Gill has not spoken to D’Souza yet.

He said that when he broke the news to the players that he was no longer going to be with them, they just went silent. “I told them your job is to play and you should now support the new coach as you had supported me.”

India had arrived in Kuala Lumpur with high hopes of winning the tournament in a city that was also the scene of their only World Cup triumph in 1975. But D’Souza had not expected what transpired at the competition. “I think we conceded too many early goals that put us under pressure. I put in every single ounce of energy and have no regrets.”

He dismissed the notion that he had not implemented suggestions put forth by K. Jotikumaran. “We implemented whatever had to be and ultimately it is the coach who decides what is good for the team although he cannot go onto the pitch.”

“We had the best 18 players picked for the World Cup and I do not blame them and still back them fully.”

D’Souza’s sacking with the competition still on does not reflect well for Indian hockey and could have been put on hold till the time the team returned home.