Ranchi Rhinos to unveil official song
PTI

KOLKATA: The Kolkata-based owners of Ranchi Rhinos, the Eastern franchise of the Hockey India League, will unveil its official song ‘Nas Nas Mein Hockey’ (hockey in our genes) in Ranchi on Wednesday.

If Kolkata dances to the tune of ‘Korbo, Larbo, Jeetbo Re’ (the theme song of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL), Ranchi would tap their feet to ‘Nas Nas Mein Hockey’ (hockey in our genes), director of Ranchi Rhinos Suresh Chauhan said.

Chauhan said through the five-team city-based event, to be held across the country from January 14 to February 10, they are keen to bring back the glorious days of Indian hockey.

Chauhan said the HIL, an IPL-style domestic hockey league, fascinated Uniexcel group chairman Vikram Jain, who floated Asia Sports Venture along with Surender Dugar of Kolkata and Vikram Jain of Bangalore, to buy the Ranchi franchise.

“Being our home city, Kolkata obviously would have been the first choice but we opted Ranchi for its superior infrastructure (artificial turf at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium) and above all, the city has a rich heritage of hockey,” Chauhan said.

Ranchi Rhinos CEO Banti Singh, a former Bengal player, added: “I have heard that in Ranchi the first thing a kid gets after he or she is born is a hockey stick. So hockey is in genes of Ranchi.”

India midfielder Birender Lakra will be the face of Ranchi Rhinos, but Chauhan said they also have plans to rope in Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to promote the team in future.

“In hockey, Birender Lakra is the favourite son of Ranchi. So, we wanted a local role model for the budding youngsters,” Chauhan said.

“We may ask Dhoni to promote later but we have not thought about it at this point of time.”

The Ranchi team director is totally satisfied with the team composition that has 10 foreigners, including double Olympic gold medallist from German Moritz Fuerste, who is the marquee player and 25-year-old English midfielder Ashley Jackson, the 2009 FIH Young Player of the Year.

As per the rules of HIL, five overseas players can be part of the playing eleven.

“We have achieved 80 per cent of our team composition goal. Besides world-class players, we have a high-profile coaching team comprising South African duo of Gregg Clark and David Staniforth. We’ll be the first team to introduce a goalkeeping coach (Staniforth) in HIL. We also have former India physio David John,” Chauhan said.

Through the HIL, Chauhan hopes to unearth young hockey talents of the state.

“Initially, we will go on for a talent hunt in Jharkhand then we will go to Sundargarh in Odisha, the places have amazing potential. We will organise a camp along with the foreign players and coaches during the tournament,” he said.

“I am sure the HIL will be a huge hit like IPL. The main objective is to develop hockey and regain the lost feet. It will take some time for sure — may be five years, but we are not at all apprehensive,” Chauhan added.

Rhinos will lock horns with Punjab Warriors in their tournament opener in Jalandhar on January 16. Ranchi will host six home matches.