Adrian quits national hockey camp

BANGALORE: Goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza quit the national hockey camp in Pune on Sunday, citing personal reasons. The Air India employee made his way to Bangalore for the CM Yeddyurappa Cup tournament, in time to help his team that was without a goalkeeper ahead of its opener against Odisha Stars.

In the process, he put a big question mark over his hockey career. Adrian is on a collision course with Hockey India but sources said he took the decision as he felt he was being made to feel ‘unwanted’ by the team management and the selectors.

Adrian handed over a letter to chief coach Jose Brasa on Sunday before leaving for Bangalore. At the KSHA stadium, Adrian said: “I have taken leave from the camp due to personal reasons. I have communicated the same to chief coach Jose Brasa and have even submitted a letter to him citing the reasons. Playing for India is paramount for me and I will return very soon.”

Sources said the main reason is that Adrian, despite being the country’s No. 1 goalkeeper, is hardly in the scheme of things at the camp. The other custodians have gained precedence over him, forcing the Mumbaikar to weigh his options ahead of the Commonwealth Games in October, they said.