Hockey icon P.R. Sreejesh is openly sharing his ambition to lead the senior national team as chief coach within the next five years. He believes this timeframe will allow him to accumulate the necessary experience and wisdom while mentoring junior players.
Currently serving as the chief coach for the junior men’s hockey team, Sreejesh has made his aspirations clear regarding a future leadership role with the senior squad.
Sreejesh acknowledges that coaching is a new chapter for him after a 25-year playing career. He finds the junior level ideal for his learning curve, stating in an exclusive interview, ‘I don’t have the patience for the sub-junior level where you need to teach basics.’
He views the transition from player to coach as significant, emphasizing, ‘From a player to becoming a coach is a transition. I feel Junior is the best platform where I can learn a lot of things. So right now I am in that process.’
Sreejesh understands the need for a gradual progression. ‘I need that maturity of becoming a senior coach. I can’t suddenly jump into that. But definitely that’s a future target. I am doing my bit, I have done FIH Level 3 coaching course,’ he explained.
The celebrated goalkeeper, also the Director of Hockey for HIL team Delhi SG Pipers, projects that ‘Five to six years down the line I think I will have the experience to head the Indian men’s team as coach.’
Looking ahead, Sreejesh, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, expressed confidence in the Indian junior team’s potential to secure a medal at the upcoming Junior World Cup, scheduled to take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10.
Before the World Cup, India will participate in the Sultan of Johor Cup, an invitational tournament in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, from October 11 to 19. Sreejesh views this event as a crucial opportunity to refine the team’s strategies and address any areas needing improvement.
‘We selected 25 players, most of whom are Junior World Cup probables, so they understand that tournaments like the Sultan of Johor Cup are the final preparation phase. In this event, we aim to polish their skills as we’ve already instilled the fundamental system,’ he elaborated.
‘This tournament will be an eye-opener for us, giving us a clear indication of how much more work is required,’ Sreejesh noted.
Beyond on-field tactics, Sreejesh has introduced an innovative approach: encouraging his junior players to read insightful books by celebrated sportspersons and coaches.
‘You need to play hockey; there’s nothing more to it. But what I’ve instilled in them is to read ‘Relentless,’ a book by Michael Jordan’s coach. It’s about passion, hard work, and more,’ he revealed.
He added, ‘We’re doing this with the understanding that young athletes think differently. They need to start thinking outside the box. Sometimes the young players get a bit annoyed because this exercise also helps keep them away from mobile addiction.’
‘In this one-hour session, they enter a different world,’ he commented. The book, ‘Relentless,’ is co-authored by Tim S. Grover, a renowned trainer for athletes such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, along with Shari Lesser Wenk.
Following a challenging previous year where both the SG Pipers men’s and women’s teams finished at the bottom, the club is hopeful for improved results in the forthcoming Hockey India League (HIL).
Regarding the upcoming closed-door HIL mini-auction on Wednesday, Sreejesh noted, ‘We’ve retained the majority of our players. We only need three additional players for the men’s team and eight for the women’s team.’
He outlined their strategy: ‘For the men’s team, we have approximately 51 lakhs available, and for the women, around 76 lakhs. Our primary need for the men’s squad is a playmaker who can effectively control the team.’