Sreejesh: “I wanted to make my country proud”

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Sept 13

IT WAS a final and it was India vs Pakistan. And nobody in the Indian camp wanted to give any leeway to the arch-rivals. In the end it all boiled down to one man — the goal-keeper. The lanky Indian custodian Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, who was out of the international circuit for around a year, decided to hoist the Indian flag a notch up than Pakistan. The six-foot tall Indian goal-keeper used his height to thwart Pakistan as he made two crucial saves that saw India lift the Asian Champions Trophy.

Goal-keepers are admired only when it comes to penalty shoot-outs and Sreejesh decided to make it his day.

“You know the only time a goal-keeper gets the credit is when the game is decided on penalties. I think it was my day and I was lucky to save those two penalties,” said the elated Indian goal-keeper while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ from New Delhi. “During the shoot-outs my mind was clear. I just wanted to save the shots and make my country proud,” he added.
Coach Michael Nobbs used both the goal-keepers in the tournament and it was by rotation that Sreejesh got the opportunity to stand under the bar in the final. “After we entered the final, our coach (Michael) Nobbs said that I would be the first choice goal-keeper for the final. So I was prepared for the big match,” said Sreejesh who missed the Commonwealth Games due to back injury.
The lanky goal-keeper said he got the advantage of his height during the match. “Being a 6-footer always helps. In the final also I took the advantage of my height,” added Sreejesh.

Sreejesh last represented India during last year’s European tour after which he suffered disc injury. Those were painful days for the Kerala-born keeper. “I suffered a disc injury which forced me out. I took rehabilitation and was advised proper rest. Slowly I started practising and got into rhythm. I worked hard as I always wanted to be back in the Indian squad,” he said.

Despite being the hero of the team for winning the title, Sreejesh feels that he needs more hard work to cement his place in the team. “I will work much harder and will try my best to keep my place in the team.”

Sreejesh wanted to dedicate his medal to his fellow custodian Adrian D’Souza. “He is my best pal. He always helped me on and off the field. I want to dedicate this (gold) medal to him,” Sreejesh proudly said. Sreejesh said instead of ruing the missed chance of Champions Trophy the team should concentrate on the Champions Challenge. “I think we should forget this (missing Champions Trophy) and plan about the Champions Challenge which is going to be held in November in South Africa. If we win that tournament we would qualify for the main tournament,” he signed off.