By Diptayan Hazra
Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 1 (ANI): Legendary Indian goalkeeper and two-time Olympic bronze medallist PR Sreejesh, who’s the Director of Hockey for the SG Pipers franchise within the Hockey India League (HIL), has opened up on the challenges and the fulfilling features of his administrative function.
Speaking about administration, Sreejesh admitted that whereas the function is fulfilling, it additionally comes with its personal set of challenges.
‘It’s form of enjoyable, however it’s difficult additionally as a result of I’m probably not into the worst a part of administration as a result of I do have an excellent staff who’s managing that however I attempt to information them with the expertise which I had as a participant,’ Sreejesh instructed ANI.
He defined that his main focus is on making certain participant consolation and well-being, drawing from his years of expertise on the sphere.
‘I say, okay, these are the issues we have to focus and these are the issues we have to do it for, you recognize, comforting these gamers, these all are clothes techniques that are actually good, these are the flights that are good for the gamers to journey as a result of we have to give them a enough break to recuperate. So all of the inputs or the advices which I can provide to the betterment of the gamers, I attempt to give that and finally it is extra essential that it is advisable be a face for them and it is advisable be there to provide them the pump up or the increase when the staff actually required it,’ he added.
Sreejesh, who gained bronze medals with India on the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, stated, ‘The difficult half is the outcome for positive, as a result of as an administrator, you simply wish to ensure the staff is getting the whole lot in a correct and deliberate means, and that they’re snug to carry out their finest on the sphere.’
He highlighted his duty as a bridge between administration and gamers.
‘You are the one who is between the company and the gamers, so undoubtedly it is advisable be chargeable for the whole lot that occurs with the staff efficiency. So I believe it is extra essential for me to provide one of the best amenities for the staff and to be sure that the gamers are snug and our plans are nice in order that they do not really feel any stress throughout or after or earlier than the match. So, it is a bit difficult as a result of being a participant or being a coach, it is a totally different function, however final yr’s expertise helped me to manage up with this,’ Sreejesh defined.
Reflecting on SG Pipers’ struggles within the earlier season, the place each the lads’s and girls’s groups completed on the backside of the desk, Sreejesh stated the franchise has addressed key points forward of the brand new marketing campaign.
‘Last yr, we missed a few our key gamers earlier than even beginning the match. So, we struggled to get replacements, and although we began nicely, we could not end the way in which we needed,’ he stated.
According to Sreejesh, higher planning has been the main focus this time round.
‘This time, we deliberate it within the appropriate means. We modified the teaching workers, picked up new gamers, and had been very clear with the teaching workers and the gamers about what we anticipate from them and what their roles and obligations are,’ he acknowledged.
On managing a squad that blends youth and expertise, Sreejesh expressed confidence within the steadiness throughout the staff.
‘We do have sufficient seniors and the juniors on this staff, 4 gamers from the Junior World Cup squad and Rupinder (Pal Singh) is already retired, however Jarman (Jarmanpreet Singh), Shamsher (Singh), and, Aditya (Arjun Lalage) is there from the senior staff, so we do have an excellent mix-up,’ he stated.
He additionally spoke extremely of veteran drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh’s affect, regardless of the participant having retired from worldwide hockey.
‘So I imagine that their expertise and their present efficiency goes to assist us to play higher hockey this season and undoubtedly Rupinder Pal, when he joined us, he brings lots of management high quality into the staff. Over to that, his expertise in drag-flicking and changing penalty corners into objective, that can also be going to be a significant half for us,’ Sreejesh added. (ANI)