KOZHIKODE : Aftergoing down to Kerala in one of the league matches, Andhra Pradesh’s Subba Rao made a remark that remains a testament to the potency of one of the most talented players of our time. “Sam was the difference between both the sides. Around him revolves the Kerala side,” Subba had said. Sam as he is fondly called, A Muthuswamy has been one of the finds of Indian volleyball over the last few years. Hailing from Edamelaiyur in Mannargudi taluk of Tiruvarur district that houses Edamelaiyur SC — a volleyball club that has produced umpteen number of Internationals — Sam was initiated in to the game at the age of 14. Soon, he made a name as one of India’s finest setters.
A setter in volleyball is akin to a creative midfielder in football. They make or break the game. As a playmaker, Sam is unparalleled and his exploits were the reason behind Kerala’s ascension to the top last season. This year too, he has been doing exceptionally well. His on-court rapport with Jerome Vinith, another Tamil Nadu player who plays for Kerala in the nationals, and Vibin George has done wonders for Kerala.
An employee of BPCL-Kochi, the 21-year-old ticks all boxes of a fine setter. He has got a good jump, reads the game and opponents well, and most importantly, reliably sets up the attackers to unleash incisive smashes. “Seldom one can see the first setter being replaced. Because you can’t replace a good setter. That’s the funda of it,” said Kerala coach K Abdul Nazer, who believes that setters are a race apart, just like leg spinners in cricket. “You can find many a leg spinners, but to find the right one is a tough job,” he said. Subba elucidated the point well. “ONGC was a powerful team with Ranjit Singh to set up their attack. Once he left them and joined Punjab, the firepower of the side was reduced to half,” the lanky spiker said.
Sam felt he raised his game after watching M Ukkrapandian up close while both of them were in Tamil Nadu side. “He is the best I’ve seen. He used to tell me about the nuances of the job,” the six-feet-two-inch tall player said.At a time when states like Tamil Nadu are coming up with bizarre rules barring other-state players from partaking in their tourneys, Sam is happy playing for Kerala. Currently included in the national camp, Sam believes he can make it to the national squad this time. Nazer felt even more. “I can foresee him becoming an asset to the country.”
While veterans like Subba applauded Sam’s technique, Nazer said his ward’s smart thinking has to be credited for his success. “The more you watch a setter, the more you can understand his thoughts and movements. It’s like reading a mystery spinner in cricket. You need to be deceptive to survive. An excellent setter will be deceptive and can easily slip the attention. Behind a successful team there is a deceptive and successful setter. I see bright future in Sam,” Nazer said.Sam, however, is not bothered by the heavy technical jargons being spun around him. “If the first pass is good, I can set it for you. It’s that simple.”shan.as@newindianexpress.com