MUMBAI: When it comes to hockey, Soorma’s making sure its next move is pure precision with a Belgian mind and an Argentine heart behind the stick. Soorma Hockey Club has appointed Olympian Philippe Goldberg of Belgium as the new head coach of its Men’s Team ahead of the upcoming Hero Hockey India League Season 2, signalling a bold shift in strategy and style. Joining him in the dugout is Argentina’s Olympian Ignacio Ricardo Bergner, who takes on the role of Analytical Coach, bringing with him the flair and data of South American hockey.
In a well-balanced reshuffle, current coach Jeroen Baart will transition to an advisor role, continuing to lend his tactical vision and technical guidance. The club, owned by JSW Sports, clearly isn’t leaving anything to chance in its quest for the title.
After finishing third in the league in its debut season, Soorma has managed to retain the core of its high-performing squad while adding new firepower. Jeetpal, a promising young recruit, and seasoned forward Akashdeep Singh, whose attacking instincts have thrilled fans for years, are set to bolster the team’s arsenal.
JSW Sports CEO Divyanshu Singh said the appointments mark an exciting new chapter: “Philippe’s tactical sharpness and international leadership experience are exactly what this team needs to take the next leap. Ignacio’s analytical insights will make our preparation smarter and our play more consistent. Together with Jeroen’s advisory role, we’ve built a coaching setup that balances creativity with structure.”
Arjun Halappa, the club’s technical director, echoed the sentiment: “The combination of Philippe’s disciplined European approach and Ignacio’s data-driven analysis aligns beautifully with Soorma’s philosophy structured yet expressive. We’re ready to take our game to the next level.”
Both Goldberg and Bergner arrive with sterling credentials. Goldberg, a European medallist and former Belgium U21 and senior team coach, was instrumental in shaping Belgium’s meteoric rise in world hockey. Known for building cohesive, attack-minded teams during his tenure with Braxgata Hockey Club, he brings a playbook steeped in precision and discipline.
Bergner, meanwhile, adds the flair and science of Argentine hockey. An Olympian and former Argentina international, he was part of Belgium’s support team during their 2016 World Cup runner-up and 2017 European Championship campaigns, before coaching Argentina’s senior and women’s national sides (Las Leonas). His mastery of analytics and performance tracking brings a cutting-edge, scientific dimension to Soorma’s preparation.
Expressing his excitement, Philippe Goldberg said, “Joining Soorma Hockey Club is an exciting opportunity to contribute to India’s evolving hockey landscape. The foundation here is strong my aim is to build a strategic framework that balances discipline, creativity, and sustained performance. Together, we’ll craft a brand of hockey that’s bold, intelligent, and unmistakably Soorma.”
The team’s leadership for Season 2025–26 now reflects a rare fusion of global hockey philosophies European precision, South American flair, and Indian grit. With Sardar Singh serving as Indian Coach and Mentor and Harmanpreet Singh leading on the field, the club’s coaching lineup promises both experience and innovation.
Soorma’s full coaching roster reads like a dream team of hockey intellects:
1. Philippe Goldberg – Men’s head coach
2. Sardar Singh – Indian coach and mentor
3. Ignacio Ricardo Bergner – Analytical coach
4. Arjun Halappa – Technical director
5. Jeroen Baart – Advisor
The team will open its 2026 campaign against defending champions Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers on 4 January in Chennai, a fixture already tipped as a clash of tactics and temperament.
If last season was about potential, this one’s about polish. With brains from Belgium, data from Argentina, and heart from India, Soorma’s playbook looks ready to turn precision into poetry and maybe, a championship.
