Times of India: Dabang Mumbai wanted world-class goal-scorers: Viren Rasquinha

NEW DELHI: With the rule change of field goals being awarded two points in the upcoming Hockey India League, it was expected that during the players’ auctions the demand for forwards would be very high. Dabang Mumbai, coming in to Friday’s auction with the biggest purse ($563,000), duly played their cards to perfection by bagging the two most lethal strikers in the game today – Germans Florian Fuchs and Kieron Govers.

Fuchs was picked after a rigorous bidding war that ended at $96,000 while Govers cost Mumbai $36,000. Along with such big names Mumbai also decided to get on board the unheralded Swedish forward Johan Bjokman for $10,000.

Talking about the acquisitions, team mentor Viren Rasquinha said that the strategy was to go for the strikers and that Mumbai are happy that they were able to fulfill their wishes. “The main strategies regarding foreign players was to look at top class goal-scorers, with two points for field goals with the new rules and we got the best one in the world in Fuchs,” said Rasquinha.

“Everyone went big for him, he has been the best player in the world for the last few years and Govers is a World Cup gold medallist. So we are happy. We also have Bjokman, an unknown guy but we’ve got good reports about him. He will add great value to the team. And our priority was three foreign players and we got Matthew Swann as well, so very happy with that.”

On the popularity of German and Australian players at the auctions, Rasquinha said: “It is logical, as they are the top teams – Germany are two-time reigning Olympic champions – and the best players come from there. You need world class-players, not just good players to win a tough tournament like HIL.”