Always be patient, learn from others but don’t copy
LEGEND WRITES India’s ace hockey ’keeper Sreejesh says poverty cannot hold you back if there is passion and intent
Dear 12-year-old Sreejesh,
Tomorrow will be a big day. You will have to leave home, your ‘acha’ and ‘amma’, to begin a life away from Kizhakkambalam. You’re going to the GV Raja Sports School in Thiruvananthapuram. I know you’re confused but ‘acha’ will ask you to follow your heart. Believe me, you will cherish this journey.
At the sports school, you will face many setbacks. You were born to a poor farmer who cannot afford kits for training. You will be forced to repair torn shoes and use them. People will laugh at you. Ignore them. Because when you are 13, you will be asked to join the U-16 national camp.
Here too, you will find yourself tying your pads with ropes. Your coaches will ask if you will ever make it big. Just because you asked, ‘acha’ will buy you pads for ~3500 by selling a cow. He won’t tell you how he arranged the money though.
When you are 16, life will change. Junior India coach Harendra Singh will ask you to join the Asia Cup camp. You will find yourself in a new atmosphere. You are not comfortable with languages other than Malayalam and you will feel alone. Friendless. But you will meet some nice people like Clarence Lobo (assistant to Harendra) and teammate Adrian D’Souza.
Adrian will be your inspiration, a brother, a friend. While you will always want to play like him, Adrian will tell you, “Sree, if you copy me, you can become Adrian D’Souza. But you will never become Sreejesh. People should love you for your own style and not mine.” It’ll be a life lesson.
The loss in the 2006 SAF final to Pakistan where you let two goals slip between your legs will make you want to quit. But you will remember the sacrifices your parents made. ‘How can you quit now?’ you will ask yourself. You will also need plenty of patience. Though you will be called up for the camps, you will have to wait for your chance. Adrian is a better player. Bharat Chettri is more experienced.
In 2009, an injury to fellow goalkeeper Baljit Singh will earn you a shot at the senior team. But your true moment will come in 2011 when you help India win their first Asian Champions Trophy beating Pakistan in the shootout. In 2014, you will be adjudged Best Goalkeeper at the Champions Trophy. The sweetest high though will be the Asian Games gold, because you will help India win in a shootout once again.
Soon, you will be India captain. Yes, you! That boy from a little village in Kerala.