Bangalore, Mar 25: Joaquim Carvalho has stayed on as the Indian hockey team's coach, thanks to the support of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and the backing of some former Olympians.

As reported by TOI earlier, several Olympians had asked for the sacking of Carvalho in the two meetings with IHF last week. However, there were some who had conveyed in emphatic terms that Carvalho should stay.

"Carvalho has been consistent enough to produce results in three of the championships that his team participated in. We cannot crucify a coach for just one loss," an Olympian told TOI. Carvalho did have his share of detractors at the meet but there were others, including M P Ganesh, Charles Cornelius, M M Somaya, Mohd Shahid, Merwyn Fernandis, V Baskaran, Zafar Iqbal and Balbir Singh (Sr), who sprang to his defence, contending that changing the coach would not mend matters.

"There is no point in indulging in blame game now," another Olympian said. "We have to work towards the development of the game. For that to happen, we need to continue with the same coach. If Charlesworth can demand a four-year term, even Carvalho deserves a similar period."

Carvalho was re-confirmed as the coach of the men's team during the same time Aussie legend Ric Charlesworth agreed in principle on Thursday to accept the offer to be the expert coach and technical advisor of Indian hockey. However, the solution to the impasse was littered with too many allegations and counter-charges which the Olympians felt only sullied the games image further.