Preparing for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy at the national camp in Delhi, goalkeeper PR SREEJESH spoke to ABHISHEK PUROHIT about how the special training has given him a positive nuance in keeping the nets
lHow are the preparations for the Asian Champions Trophy goingIJ
As you know, the Championship Trophy begins from November 1, 2013 in Japan. And so far the training is on the mark. Having said that, the national camp started from September 28, it has only been six days, so early days into the preparation. But with a three-week long camp at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in the Capital we will be fighting fit.
lWhat are the areas, the team is focusing onIJ
We have just come back from the Asia Cup and have been on a break. We are focusing on the fitness aspect for now. Some of our players were injured during the Asia Cup have also joined the squad and their fitness is also being monitored regularly. Some of the reserves too have joined the squad. Once that is over, we will work on the basics of the game and train accordingly.
lThe team doesn’t have a chief coach. Any preferencesIJ
For now, we are training under our high performance director and interim coach — Roelant Oltmans. And I don’t have a preference. Players don’t get involved in these decisions. It is in the hands of the associations and its officials. They will appoint a chief coach after looking at various factors. I am ready to welcome whoever is appointed.
lYou have a goalkeeping coach (Dave Staniforth) to go for help. How is that working for the teamIJ
After three years, I am getting coaching lessons from a specialised goalkeeping coach. Dave. It has been good working with him. He has been of great help ever since he joined us. He was a South African national team custodian.
Being a player himself, he understands what I am going through and my game in a better way than a non-specialised coach would. He was travelling with the junior team for the Sultan of Johar Cup when we were on a break. I am sure that the young goalkeepers would have picked up a lot of his suggestions and taken help from him.
lWhat are some of the areas he worked with you onIJ
He worked on my basics. He rectified the minor mistakes committed. He turned my negatives into positives. I feel good about my game now. He has instilled a lot of confidence in me which was quite necessary. We had worked on my game, two practice sessions every day, for the three weeks before we left for the Asia Cup in Malaysia.
lYou got the Best Goalkeeper Award. How does that feelIJ
Yes, it was good that I was able to performer well. It helped the team to do well as well. We played good hockey. Even in the final, we played well.
But, at the last moment, the referee awarded a short corner and we conceded a goal. It was very unfortunate that we lost. Our aim was to win the Asia Cup and qualify for the World Cup. But it didn’t turn out that way. Haarne ke baad kya khushi hogi. Bahut dukh hua mujhe. But, it’s part and parcel of the game.
lWhat about the confidence level for ACTIJ
We are concentrating on the training and need to raise the bar of the fitness level. Though the juniors have played well, we also need the experience. Since the selection of the team has yet to be finalised I am hoping that a mix of experienced players with juniors will work for us.
lYou were the hero of ACT in 2011 where India defeated Pakistan in the final. Do you have any strategy this time roundIJ
No such strategy in place. All I can say is that I will give it my best so that the team can win. That year we had performed really well. And in the following year too, we had finished runners-up to Pakistan. Hopefully, we will do well.