Bhopal lad Affan Yousuf, son of former international player, Md.Yousuf, is not exactly the new kid in the hockey town having established his name in the national team already. However, the whimsical way he has been omitted from the squads raised many eyebrows, like not seeing him in the Junior World Cup. Since then he has been under constant focus with added demand from the public for his inclusion in the national team. He had a wonderful and highly successful Hockey India League campaign, and with that Affan Yousuf was again drafted into the core group of probable of forthcoming senior World Cup. Our writer Tazeen Qureshy, caught Affan open up his mind on the eve of him joining the camp to be held in Delhi this week.
Congratulations on making it to the probables list. What are your expectations from this camp?
“My focus will be to perform better and make it to the World Cup squad. We have almost two months for preparation. Although we have teams like Australia in our pool, but we have faced top teams earlier in World Hockey League also. So, we have a fair idea about their style of play.”
You made your debut in Hockey India League this year with the Punjab Warriors. Share your experience of the journey.
“The experience was good. Playing alongside players like Jaap Stockmann and Jamie Dwyer is a big thing. It was a great learning experience for me.”
Punjab had a dream run in this edition. It made it to the finals and you had a major role to play. Are you satisfied with your performance?
“It was a team effort. Every single player played his part. For me, HIL was satisfying. But, there is always a scope for improvement.”
You played with the likes of Jamie Dwyer and other foreign players. Was it easy to gel with them?
“Jamie and all other players have been very supportive. We interacted on various aspects of the game. All of them motivated a lot. Even if we committed mistakes, our captain Jamie would explain us rather than shout and get angry.”
In HIL, you looked matured and confident. You often single-handedly ventured into the rival D, dodged some of the best defenders and created benefits for your team. Has this league added a lot in you as a player?
“Initially, I was nervous, but after 2 matches, I got a fair idea about the game, the combinations and attacks. That helped me improve my game and yes, I was more confident after that.”
HIL is known to give instant name and fame to young players. Last year, it was Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh who came into the limelight overnight. Do you anticipate this edition to be a turning point for you?
“I hope it becomes a turning point for me.”
You were not selected in the main team for the Junior World Cup last year. Do you believe your performance in HIL will silence your critics?
“I am not thinking on those lines. If I was criticized, they would have seen some mistakes in my game. That is not my concern. I just want to play and work hard. Results will follow.”
Which is your favorite match in HIL?
“Both the semifinal against Ranchi and final against Delhi were good.”
What is your next target?
“I hope to make it to the World Cup squad.”