SENIOR PLAYER SHIFTS ROLE

Tirkey wants to play the mentor

Bangalore: Captaincy holds no charm for Dilip Tirkey any longer. It’s a mantle that youngsters will have to don if they have to see India through challenging times in the coming years, the veteran feels.

But Tirkey, 31, doesn’t mind playing the role of a mentor. With 374 matches and 13 years of international hockey behind him, the urge to graduate to a higher level seems logical, particularly with a legion of players and supporters which regards him as an inspirational figure.

“My experience has helped me lead the team from the front. But now I think I have done enough of that. It’s time for me to prove that I can be a guide to players. Many of them come to me with doubts, seek my advice and I am only too glad to show them the way,” Tirkey told TOI.

So why is he shying away from captaincy? “I am not running away from captaincy,” Tirkey said. “If I am asked to be the captain again, I will oblige. But I am of the firm opinion that youngsters ought to be given a chance. I was happy when Prabodh Tirkey was asked to lead the team last year. This is the right way forward.”

Quoting the example of cricket, Tirkey said captains ought to be groomed at a young age. “I led the team from 2002 Cologne Champions Trophy. Likewise, we need players to lead for years. There are many who are young, aggressive, intelligent and firm in their attitude. Right now, after the Olympic qualifier debacle, the urge to do well has doubled. We need to cash in on that and develop leaders at a young age.”

Tirkey, who last led India in the 2006 Asian Games, said he had no problems playing under a young captain. “During my days at the top, I had players rallying round me during crisis. At the same time, I was diplomatic yet resolute when I was asked to solve a problem. A new captain will want similar co-operation from all of us and we will be duty-bound to work as a team.”

Tirkey, who took a long break from hockey in early 2008 to recover from a ligament injury, said it was heartening that the team had the best-ever assembly of penalty corner experts. “Dragflickers are matchwinners, make no mistake about that. Now, we have Sandeep, VR Raghunath and Diwakar Ram, all of them doing very well. The team has hitters too in me and Sameer Baxla. We can form a formidable combination.”

The veteran also welcomed foreign help in penalty corners. “If (Dutch expert) Toon Siepman can make things better for us, he should be roped in. He is a master at indirect variations, an area which we haven’t done well at all. It can be an added advantage if he can sharpen our indirect skills too.”