He is professionally a Quality Control Officer and knows not only how to control quality in the players, but also how to bring the best in them in the most opportune of times. Canada’s Louis Mendonza is the coach who is envied, as his under-rated team surprised Argentina in the Pan American Games and thus ensured Canada’s ticket to Beijing.
Putting the things in perspective, the Canadian of Indian origin – his parents migrated to Toronto from Goa in the early 70s – said: “Canada-Argentina matches are like India and Pakistan. Ratings and rankings do not count whenever they meet. So, we know on our day we can put it across the Argentineans, so it was”.
Louis brought his team to Kuala Lumpur which had 6 practice matches involving Champions trophy competitors, before the team left last Sunday. He and his manager are here to watch the Champions Trophy tournament.
After being the assistant coach to Mueller for four years, Louis stepped into fill up the senior coaching slot in November 2006. “I was happy at the university coaching when I was called to take up the duty. Since so many changes took place in the Canadian hockey then, I was found to be the only link with the past, and had to take up the job”
The run up to the Pan Am Games was not much. Canada played against training squads of England, and three test matches against Scotland. “We have limited resources, and want to use them optimally. We won’t mind playing in unofficial matches, as we do here or there in England, as long as we keep improving”.
He was frank enough to admit the Argentineans’ success at Boom Champions Challenge Cup really scared them. “But my team rose to the occasion, especially players like Ken Perreira, Rob Short, Connor Grimes and goalkeeper Mike Mahmood. Once they took the lead 2-1, they went into a defensive mood, where we really felt our chance. In the Pan Am history also the score used to be always narrow, we could equalize”.
Two tournaments of worth the Canadians could play before the Pan Am was the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, where they finished last and before that Centria Cup in Dublin. Shortly later, Canada was in the Beijing bus, even as four former Olympic gold medalists (GB, India, New Zealand and Germany) struggle to qualify.
Louis is not sitting on the laurels. He set his eyes firmly on Beijing. “We know well we are not in the top list. Now the Olympic committee is coming forward to help. We acquire the best of scientific support, country’s best physiologist, psychologist and that type of stuff. Now the whole support team is there to map out a strategy. Our idea is to be on par with the best of the world”
He focuses on fitness and team strategy. “What we need is warm weather practices, and we got some here, and something more in South Africa tour early next year. Most of the boys are new to the Olympics. They have to be mentally tough. It is all mind over matter, which we should focus”.
Louis welcomes his players in the European League. “Four senior boys are there in the Holland and Spain league. They are older players and good for them. We try to keep younger players back home. Our depth is different, we have to plan and do things differently”.
Louis makes it a point to analyse Professional sports of other disciplines to learn and adopt them to hockey. One place he often visits is Toronto Maple Leaves Ice Hockey Team, and their war room. “These are all eye-openers”, says Louis, who has level V NCCP (National Coaches Certification Programme).