We need to stay focused: Harendra
By Naveen Peter, Nov 19, 2016, Bengaluru: DHNS:
Ever since returning from the four-nation tournament in Spain, there’s just one thing that Harendra Singh has repeatedly told his boys — stay focused.
“We need to be focused,” said the coach of the Indian junior hockey team gearing up for the World Cup next month in Lucknow. “Do our job to the best of our abilities. World Cup is not a small tournament. Every team here wants to win and I’m sure it won’t be any different this time,” he said after a training session at the SAI South Centre on Friday.
“Players who turn up here are not well known in terms of their playing styles or their strengths and weakness. All we can do is focus on our goal and work towards it. If you concentrate on others, you may lose focus and that’s something we can’t afford. We need to be focused, train hard and play the best hockey that we can, and the results will follow.”
Four players from the squad have graduated into the senior team this year. While drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh was called into the senior team for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Harjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh and goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya were included in the squad for the Champions Trophy. Harendra felt these guys will play a crucial role especially when the team is on the back foot.
Mentor’s role
“It always helps when the junior boys spend time with the senior team. There is a certain pace at which things happen in the senior team. And the thinking is different too. So the player who has been a part of the senior team plays the role of the mentor to the juniors. It is always beneficial.
“But having said that, they are aware that they made it to the senior team on the strength of their performance with the junior side. When there is any shortcoming, especially under pressure, they have to step up to be counted,” he explained.
Of the 25 players at the camp only 18 could make the cut. And for Harendra, the toughest challenge was to let the news out to the dropped ones.
“It was the toughest job for me. I went to their rooms individually and told them. But that’s how things are. Sport sometimes is cruel. There is a number in a team composition which we have to adhere to,” he revealed.
“We need to be focused,” said the coach of the Indian junior hockey team gearing up for the World Cup next month in Lucknow. “Do our job to the best of our abilities. World Cup is not a small tournament. Every team here wants to win and I’m sure it won’t be any different this time,” he said after a training session at the SAI South Centre on Friday.
“Players who turn up here are not well known in terms of their playing styles or their strengths and weakness. All we can do is focus on our goal and work towards it. If you concentrate on others, you may lose focus and that’s something we can’t afford. We need to be focused, train hard and play the best hockey that we can, and the results will follow.”
Four players from the squad have graduated into the senior team this year. While drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh was called into the senior team for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Harjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh and goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya were included in the squad for the Champions Trophy. Harendra felt these guys will play a crucial role especially when the team is on the back foot.
Mentor’s role
“It always helps when the junior boys spend time with the senior team. There is a certain pace at which things happen in the senior team. And the thinking is different too. So the player who has been a part of the senior team plays the role of the mentor to the juniors. It is always beneficial.
“But having said that, they are aware that they made it to the senior team on the strength of their performance with the junior side. When there is any shortcoming, especially under pressure, they have to step up to be counted,” he explained.
Of the 25 players at the camp only 18 could make the cut. And for Harendra, the toughest challenge was to let the news out to the dropped ones.
“It was the toughest job for me. I went to their rooms individually and told them. But that’s how things are. Sport sometimes is cruel. There is a number in a team composition which we have to adhere to,” he revealed.
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