The time for experiments and exploration is over in the Coal India Hockey India League. Its the business end of the tournament, as both semifinals are lined up for Saturday. Its a do-or-die situation for everyone, including the carefully cultivated fans.
My team, Ranchi Rays, don’t take things lightly. Just because we did brilliantly so far, it doesn’t guarantee us a cakewalk against Kalinga Lancers. We cannot hurdle past the semifinals that easily. We need to forget that we are defending champions playing on home turf, and also the fact that we won all five matches here. Today is a new day and history won’t hold.
It is easier said than done. The Ranchi crowd is our source of strength. They are the most partisan. They just love us, cheering fanatically and helping us win, while going ecstatic when we score, and falling silent when we struggle. I cannot resist playing amidst such passionate stands.
Kalinga somehow are our traditional foes. Neighbours fight fiercely in sport, and so do we. Our styles, format, team construct, whatever vibes that matter, are almost the same. Therefore, I won’t hazard a guess as to the result. We will go for the kill, be assured.
On any given day, either of us can click. Yes, we defeated them twice in the run up. It gives us confidence, but not complacence. For all we know, it could be a solitary goal margin.
Kalinga Lancers’ forward line evokes fear. Glenn Turner and Aran Zaleswki are the sharpest in the circle. We need to calm down their pace, contain counters, hold nerves and create right moments for our forwards to do the rest. Essentially, we should translate coach Harendra Singh’s strategy of total hockey on the turf.
Till now, coaches planned quarter-wise. Now, only comprehensive approach will work. Waiting for the last quarter to strike is a risky proposition. Precision passes, polite tackles, fresh legs, quick-silver reflexes and judicious call of referrals, will count. Mad running, aimless overheads, open, rough tackles and emotional outbreaks will backfire.
When the teams are equal, goalkeeping can change the outcome, and we have the world’s best goalies. Four of them, who will play at Rio, will be in action today. We Indians, whether on the winning or losing side, would have a Rio dress rehearsal.
Therefore, its Indian hockey that will be benefitted, irrespective of the outcome. This is what the HIL promised, and is delivering.
