It's hard grind, but these boys are having fun

By Our Special Correspondent

LUDHIANA, JAN. 23. Whether it is a gloomy and foggy morning or a bright afternoon, the Indian probables are out tuning up for the hectic season ahead. Coach Cedric D'Souza keeps the 40-odd trainees on their toes through the day with active rest, and assures one that the boys are having fun at the Punjab Agricultural University campus.

``There is harmony, and we are all working together,'' said Cedric. He has just finished the morning session and followed it up with a video-session analysing the details with healthy interaction from the players.

Cedric has also had a discussion with the eight coaches deputed here to grasp the fundamentals-a healthy trend towards ensuring that the whole country soon follows one method right from the grassroots.

``It is good to get all the coaches in one wavelength. It is a good initiative and soon we will have 50 coaches training players the same way,'' said Cedric.

``We are having intense training. It is good to have an intense three-week camp in this weather as the players are able to take the load. We have been here from January 9, and the camp goes on up to the 29th. Then after a week's break the probables will assemble in Bangalore for the final acclimatisation camp before the three-Test series against Germany,'' said coach C.R. Kumar, who has been assisting Cedric along with Ashish Ballal.

The Ballal factor

One is left wondering about the status of the best goalkeeper in the country, Ashish Ballal, who has been finding his way back after spending two years in the wilderness. The player himself does not want to vitiate the positive atmosphere, and says he would go by what the chief coach tells him.

Ballal, who has been permitted to be a player-cum- coach by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), is now busy training the other goalkeepers in the camp.

``There is a time and place for everything. If Ashish proves that he is the best he will have no problem finding a place in the team. Right now, he feels he can do justice to only one thing at a time. He is coaching,'' says Cedric.

Ballal has a rich reservoir of knowledge in goal- keeping and does not hesitate to impart what he knows to the other goalkeepers in the camp. Ballal, it must be said, is learning the art of teaching fast.

``There are a lot of things that I have learnt after playing for many years. If these players are taught the right methods they will be in an advantageous position, with enough time to focus on higher things, Ballal said, quite at peace with the situation, though there is no denying the fact that he loves playing more than anything.

There is no dearth of sincerity in the Indian camp, whether it is coaching or playing, everyone is giving 100 per cent.

``The federation, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the players and the coaches are working closely together. When the communication channels are functioning smoothly, I don't see a situation when we may have to fight for the inclusion of a player or things like that. There is no dearth of talent in Indian hockey, and if all of us pull together, there is no reason why Indian hockey cannot regain its earlier status,'' said Cedric, looking quite optimistic.

With the ongoing Asian Schools hockey tournament keeping the astro-turf occupied for nearly 10 days, the Indian campers have not been able to make full use of the synthetic surface. Yet, there are no complaints as the emphasis so far has been on physical fitness with a certain degree of mental training thrown in.

It is a hard life for the campers who have a tough task master in Cedric D'Souza. If hard work can be fun, good results may not be far behind.

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