In India, Dhanraj Pillay is a name synonymous with hockey.
Hockey legend is currently tutoring the Maharashtra State Police team
MUMBAI: In India, Dhanraj Pillay is a name synonymous with hockey. The living legend, with a career spanning over two decades, brought numerous laurels for Indian hockey. One might think that he’s probably had more than his share of the sport, but the former India captain thinks otherwise.
Having ruled the sport with his hockey stick since 1989, when he debuted at the Asia Cup in New Delhi, Dhanraj has now decided to step into the coach’s shoes. The four-time Olympian is often at the ongoing Mumbai Hockey Association’s Super League at the Mahindra Stadium dishing out instructions to his team - Maharashtra State Police.
Dhanraj took up the post of coach for MS Police last month and his contract with the team ends in December. “The team had been offering me this position for the past two-three years but because of prior commitments I couldn’t take it up. Now, the internal management of the team has undergone a change and they offered me a short stint, so I took it up,” he said.
Dhanraj has been vested with the responsibility of shaping up the MSP team for the All India Police Games to be held in December. “It is one of the biggest tournaments in the Police calendar and I have been appointed to make their job easier,” he said.
Commenting on the make up of his team, Dhanraj said, “There is a good mix of young and experienced players. There are some experienced players like Prakash Sakpal whom I have especially released from service to be able to play.”
Since most players come from places in Maharashtra where hockey is played on grass, the biggest challenge for Dhanraj is to get them conditioned to playing on artificial turf.
“Fitness is an aspect that I am concentrating on right now. I want the players to be fit for 70 minutes of the game,” Dhanraj said.
One card that Dhanraj has up his sleeve is that he has played under 30 coaches in his international career. “I have seen the best in the business. I used to train in Europe, which is the hub of hockey today. I know what it takes to be an effective coach. I only have to change a few techniques to suit the Indian mentality,” he said.
On being asked whether he would want to take up the role for the national team, an optimistic Dhanraj said, “Of course. Why not? I would be thrilled to coach the Indian hockey team. I’m surely open for that option.”
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