Did you know Indian hockey captain is already a coach?

By Team Asianet NewsableFirst Published Dec 15, 2016, 12:39 PM IST
Highlights
  • PR Sreejesh has been injured since Asian Champions Trophy 2016.
  • He has been training the Indian team playing in the Junior Hockey World Cup.

He is not only undergoing his rehabilitation but also to pursuing his career option after quitting the game, i.e. coaching.

 

Sreejesh is currently with the India colts in participating in the Junior World Cup as a goalkeeping consultant, a role which he feels will benefit him as well as junior goalkeepers Vikas Dahiya and Krishan B Pathak in the longer run.

 

He was there with the young bunch in the national camp that was held in Bengaluru prior to the Junior World Cup.

 

"I was about to undergo my rehabilitation after the injury I sustained during the Asian Champions Trophy and then a thought suddenly came into mind to train with the junior side. I asked the coaching staff and Roelant (Oltmans) about it and they readily agreed," Sreejesh said on the sidelines of the tournament.

 

Read more: FIH junks 119 India vs Pakistan match records into 'garbage bin'

 

"Apart from helping the junior goalkeepers, I foresee this opportunity to study and analyse myself. This opportunity will give me an idea about where I am making mistakes because teaching is all about learning," he said.

 

Sreejesh said coaching has always been his passion but right now his role is all about fine-tuning.

 

"Coaching is something I look up to after I finish my international career. But right now it's all about helping the juniors by sharing experience and tips. Now you can only do polishing for these people. You can't do any visible changes. You can bring in some confidence.

 

"Being a goalkeeper, you can motivate them. Even they can relate to it, thinking that I've been in similar situations that they face. They will take my words seriously because of that," said the lanky Kerala lad, who is regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world currently.

 

"Goalkeeping is a different story in hockey. More than technical, it's about the mental part. In 70 minutes, you will get the ball twice or thrice. Now, if one concedes a goal early, he's going to get another chance after a very long time.

click me!