Goalkeeper eminent entity in modern hockey: Romeo
March 31, 2009: Bhopal:
Former Indian Hockey Team goalkeeper Romeo James today claimed that the goalie plays an indispensable role for any team and becomes a significant entity in modern hockey.
Talking at city’s Goregaon-based Sports Authority of India facility during the last phase of training for the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament – scheduled in Malasyia next month among five countries, Assistant Coach James said, ”with modern hockey and introduction of new rules hockey has become a sport of more energy, pace and strength”.

Due to its fast pace, the goalkeeper had to remain attentive and alert during the entire game as the fear of a goal always looms over him. In new rules, no fear of off-side remains for the attacking team and after a foul the players can directly drag the ball to the net.

James, who represented India at the Olympics and more than 80 matches,
said that speed, hitting, trapping and strategy become substantial points
in modern hockey enforcing the defence team to become more powerful than the attacking team.

”Team India’s senior most and experienced player Dilip Tirkey becomes
world’s best defender and it benefited the team in several international matches,” he claimed. Denying that artistic hockey is not extinct with the advent of modern hockey, James added, ”the importance of pace increases in modern hockey but significance of artistic hockey is still there .”

Courtesy: Central Chronicle.