24-year-old Belgium player Tom Boon, most expensive player in HIl with a price tag of $103,000, talks to Tanuj lakhina about the upcoming tournament and his expecations. Excerpts
This is your first season in the Hockey India league. Did you happen to see the first two editions and what was your assessmentIJ
Yes, I did see the first two editions on the internet and I really enjoyed it. Now that it is my first season, I wish to play with the best players here. The level will be high in the tournament. All good players who play at the highest level are involved. I know a few of the players and will get to know some more.
You were picked for $103,000, making you the costliest player in the HIl. Does that make you proud or leave you under pressureIJ
It definitely makes me proud and it has also put a bit of pressure but it's a great feeling. Now I just have to prove myself on the field.
Mumbai didn't perform well in the first two editions. How do you see 2015's HIl from Mumbai's perspectiveIJ
I can't really comment about the previous two editions as I wasn't here. But this time we are trying to get better and improve our results. We have a good balance in our team of Indian players and foreign players. We're training well. The Indian players in our squad are of good quality too.
The intensity in HIl is different from the international tournments. Is it fair to expect it to be the sameIJ
No, it is unfair to compare the two. For the national side, you play with the same set of players for the entire year. You train with them throughout and you get better together. It is difficult to replicate that for the HIl as it is a short term tournament.
Should the leagues such as HIl run for a longer time period as against national team tournaments, like they do in footballIJ
Can't really compare the two (hockey's running and football's running). Football is really big and there are many teams but hockey doesn't have that many teams. Hence we play more for the national team and the tournaments for country. But leagues such as HIl are good competition and provides a good opportunity to learn new things. Maybe there should be more tournaments for national teams.
Mumbai has an experienced coach in Valentin Altenburg. Have you two had a chat about how you will play and strategyIJ
We talk as much as we can. Haven't had much of a chance for an extensive discussion but we still have a week. He communicates with the entire team. Not sure of how we will form up but we are working towards it.
India edged Belgium 4-2 in the Champions Trophy last month. What was your assessment of the teamIJ
The Indian team has improved a lot over the years. last time they were this good was in 2012. They also demonstrated good hockey against Australia in the test series. They're getting better.
You were highly critical of the 15-minute quarter rule. Are you worried that in an attempt to make the sport more friendly for TV audience, it is becoming difficult for the playersIJ
It is tough to manage the game in such a small time period and that was my concern. The play is stopped in places which gets tricky to manage. But having said that, I've played only one tournament with the new time rule and maybe I need to play more to have a better point of view.
You come from a family of hockey players with your mother, grandmother and uncle having played hockey professionally. Do you discuss the game with themIJ
We do discuss about hockey in our family. They help me a lot with their tips. And I'm very thankful and it's nice to have their support.