Times of India: I never even hoped to be part of the Indian team, let alone be its captain: Sreejesh

His deft moves have earned victory for India in numerous tournaments. Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh, aka the ‘Wall of Indian Hockey,’ has now another title to his laurels — the role of the captain of the Indian team — as captain Sardar Singh gets rested. Sreejesh thus becomes the first Malayali to lead the national hockey team, but no, the netminder is as cool as cucumber when he says the title doesn’t stress him out. Sreejesh, who is now busy with the team gearing up for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament to be held in London, speaks to Trivandrum Times about what captaincy means to him, expectations, love for movies and more:

Congrats! Does the pressure of expectations weigh you down as the new captain?

Thanks, and not at all! You feel the pressure only when you try to take all the responsibility on yourself. I always consider it the duty of all the 11 players of the team to share the weight of expectations. Othu Pidichaal Malayum Porum, (Union is strength) right? That’s how I deal with it. But I am also aware that it’s the responsibility of the captain to bring in that union, and that’s when we call him a success.

When you started out as a hockey player while at school, did you ever think you would lead the country one day?
I never hoped even to be part of the Indian team, let alone be its captain (laughs)! Moreover, captaincy is generally bestowed upon senior players. A goalkeeper becoming the captain is quite rare. As captain Sardar Singh is rested this time, being the vice-captain I was chosen to lead the team, that’s all. I’m just doing my duty as his fill-in.

How important is the Champions Trophy tournament for the team?

It’s like a preparation for the Rio Olympics. This tournament also has the top six teams in the world as participants. Currently, we are ranked 11 in the world. The tournament can teach us what we have to do to improve the ranking and also how to play better in other matches coming up. We have been training hard for the past three or four months, in which we have learnt new tricks and strategies. The Champions Trophy will be an experimental tournament to implement all of it. We don’t have any sky-high expectations, but want to make sure we give consistent, strong performances.

What are our prospects for the Rio Olympics?

We are excited, but I wouldn’t term it our dream tournament. In the past one or two years, we have beaten all the top teams in the world, that’s a plus for us. Our focus will be to win the maximum number of matches and qualify for the quarter finals. We can’t predict who the stronger opponent is. But whoever plays well on that day will win, that’s all we can say.

Captain Sardar Singh, with whom you have served as vice captain, rates you as one of the best goalkeepers in the world! How’s your equation with him?

We have been playing together for the past seven or eight years and I have been the goalkeeper of the team for almost six years. We aren’t best friends or so but there is a kind of chemistry that comes in when you play together for many years. I don’t know how to describe in words the comfort level we share, but it’s quite strong and time-tested.

One miss and the goalkeeper is blamed for the team losing, right?

Goalkeeping is a thankless job. People might not remember all your saves, but will note the ones you did not. The team might win a game because you saved well, but viewers would remember the ones who scored the goals for the team, more than you. The world has been recognising me now, but for the past many years, I was behind that helmet. It’s all part of the game.

What’s a typical match day like for you?

If there is a match in the evening, I start the day with a tea and head to an activation session, which is usually conducted for goalkeepers. It will have hits, saves, penalty corners and movements, which we practise to stay alert. We might be the ones who handle the ball the least but we can’t afford to lose concentration. Then we will have a team meeting with everyone who would be playing that evening. Post lunch, the players will sit together for a five-minute chat and discuss our plans for the match. After that, I go for a brief power nap. Once up, I will have a black coffee, pack my gear and go to the ground.

When did you realise that hockey was your destiny?

My family has no sports background. I hardly knew what hockey was all about back then, and it’s only after joining GV Raja School that I watched the game for the first time. Also, nobody I knew was happy about me playing hockey, as there were few Kerala players whom you could emulate or look up to at that time. During school, I thought after a few years my life would be like that of any other youngster’s and until then I will play hockey.
I struggled with the game in my first year, but in the second year — when I was in Class 9 — I got selected for the Kerala team! It’s then that I felt that I wanted to continue with the game. I first took part in the Indian camp while in Class 10, I got more interested and felt probably I can take it seriously, as a career.

How supportive was your family?

Often, its parents who plan the career of their kids, right? But if my dad had chalked out such a plan and forced me to follow it, I wouldn’t have become the player I am today. My parents Raveendran and Usha were bold and considerate enough to support me when I chose hockey. Even during times when I wasn’t doing well, they helped me stay positive. My dad is a farmer and to buy the goalkeeper’s pad for me, he even sold our cow! But indirectly, he was making me responsible for my own fate. It was like saying, ‘You made your choice, we support you, but be responsible for what you become and do well.’ It really worked for me.

What are the prospects of hockey talents in Kerala today?

Kerala has many talented hockey players, but if they aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve, the culprits are the numerous associations involved. There are at least four associations as of now in the State. It’s sad that the players and their careers get entangled in the friction between them.

Since your daughter was born in 2014, your luck factor has increased…

I would say that I have been lucky right from the day I met my wife Aneeshya in 2001, who was also a sportsperson, at GV Raja School. And yes, my daughter Anusree has also brought ‘Lakshmi’ (luck and wealth) into my life. It’s after her birth that I won many laurels like the Commonwealth silver Medal, Asian Games gold medal, Arjuna Award, Player of the Year Award and many more.

You are a self-confessed movie buff. Do you now get time to catch up on the latest films?

I am, but I don’t get much time now. When I go home, I watch the latest movies with my wife. I had watched Nivin Pauly’s Jacobinte Swargarajyam recently and loved it. I generally prefer comedy. There is enough of stress in life, why add on to it with a disturbing movie when you can go for an entertaining alternative?