Kerala KHILADI

The heavens opened up after the pedestrian finals of the recent MCC Murugappa Gold Cup finals in Chennai. The welcome rains cascaded down on to the astro turf, drenching and flooding grounds as it was thirsty.

Parath Ravindran Sreejesh, the goalkeeper for Indian Overseas Bank, the valiant hero of the semi-finals, was with me as we walked down the memory lane’ to catch a glimpse of his germination as a player to genius-in-making under the bar.

This gentle giant (183 cms tall, wingspan 212 cms) narrated his tale of making it to the national level. A tale which perhaps has in it for a Bollywood/ Mollywood/ Kollywood industry producers to stake exclusive rights!

A tale of parental sacrifice, destiny, setbacks, labour, struggle, climaxing with being noticed by players, spectators, coaches to make this small town boy a star-in-making mould.

Sreejesh will soon rub shoulders with the biggies in the business like Adrian, Chetri, Baljeet and Harpreet in a camp, as the call for the national duty has already arrived. Now his focus to ensure his slot for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and not to forget the World Cup waiting to happen in the same year.

On this day when I was with him, he has been promoted by his employers to managerial cadre, on a special recommendation of the Chairman, who seemed to have been won over by his extra-ordinary feat in the Murugappa mela

Kerala’s contribution in sports is more in track & fields, football, volleyball and basketball. Field hockey is out of place yet we forget, the Railway’s women’s team of the 70’s comprised quite a number of Keralites.

The lad born and brought up in Alwaye, studied the 3R’s at the St. Joseph’s School.
broad shoulders maybe, he recalls, led him to shot putt. A district level performance rewarded him a place at the GD Raja Sports School in 2000. Destiny was to be written & re-written in the life of Sreejesh there. Excitement waned into disappointment when this small-town boy saw better shot-putters. Realised there was no point in continuing with it. And he did what a typical Keralite would do in such a situation — changed over to volleyball court to seek his destiny, which was not there. He confronted with the ‘proverbial wall’ , his height, rather lack of it, proving to be a stumbling block.

A very dejected and disappointed yet determined Sreejesh decided ‘with the nothing to lose and everything to win’ attitude; meandered to field hockey in 2001. Started off as a half-back, little knowing what lies ahead!

His coaches then Ramesh Kolappa and Jayakumar noticed his quick reflexes, made him wear the pads, which he did rather reluctantly.

‘When the bridges behind you have been burnt, there is no choice but to go ahead positively’ quotes Sreejesh, with gratitude to his coaches for that far reaching decision that would later on change his destiny for better later on. He puts it,” How could I go back home to face near & dear one’s who have put their faith in me?”

Throughout 2002, his skills were being honed with regular participation in the local tournaments. Yet, the family at him were not too taken up with their son opting for hockey.

2003 saw him making it to the state Sub junior team at Bangalore, which ensured him a place in a month long camp, that too, at the prestigious N.I.S. Patiala premises. A couple of more camps followed in succession

Life has this delightful way of playing tricks on us. Sreejesh found out this. Harendra, the Air India coach, came to Kerala for a Coaches clinic. Spotting the potential in Sreejesh, he invited him for the Asia Cup Camp in Delhi. Of course, he was too raw to be selected but he fine-tuned himself for the future. “That camp opened my eyes on hockey”!

It was in 2004 happened to see two camps; one for the seniors and in this one month camp with Edward Aloysius as the goal keeping coach, the practice match against the seniors saw Sreejesh impressing the seniors.

His first foreign tour was to ‘Down Under’. The Indian junior rookies were made to play the Aussie Junior World Cup team there. Although the 5 match series ended rather creditably for the Indians, Sreejesh mentions as a goalkeeper it was a bit tough on me “My 1st foreign tour and we conceded 19 goals in 5 matches”. But adds ruefully “It was a great learning, I gathered invaluable experience. Maybe, I toughened mentally a little bit more”.

Followed a series of tournaments and tours with his passport being stamped with the visas of Malaysia, Pakistan, Spain, Poland, Germany, Malaysia.

The Azlan Shah silver in 2008 being a highlight in his playing career as was the Junior Asia Cup where he was awarded the ‘Best Goal-keeper’ trophy.

In Alwaye, a once sceptical farmer who sold off his only cow for Rs. 3,500 to fulfil his son’s wish for a new pair of pads during his sports school days and also borrowed Rs. 15,000 to fund his son’s request for a better pair of pads. He must be smiling when the son displays the pads he has been sponsored by OBO –The New Zealand company bearing a price tag of Rs. 1.25 lakhs!

Once has to thank, his father for putting his faith in his son, coaches Kolappa and Jayakumar, Air India coach Harendra, Indian Overseas Bank- his employers who made sure his performance got more than equated with his promotions.

As for Sreejesh, ‘fear no forward but respect all opponents.’ He is working to realise his dream of winning the Olympic Hockey gold in 2012. I tend to say Good luck to you.