00:00Welcome to ITGD Sports and today we have a very special guest, P.R. Srijesh, the wall of Indian
00:06hockey, an absolute legend. Now retired, last time I talked to him, he said, no, no, I am not
00:13retiring. Two days later, he decides to retire. Now he is in a very different capacity. He is the
00:19junior men's team head coach. He is the mentor of SG Pipers. So how has it been? Life after
00:26retirement, do you still feel that urge to get back onto the turf and pull off a couple
00:33of saves? No, not really. Life got busier after retirement because being a player, you are
00:40just taking care of yourself, your performance, your diet, your health, that's all. But now
00:44you are responsible for 34 players and your coaching staff. So you are spending the same
00:50amount of time on the field, coaching the players and around six to seven hours on the
00:56computer, just preparing for the next sessions, analyzing the sessions and preparing for the
01:02next tournaments. So I think, I mean, after retirement, I'm busier. I'm literally busier.
01:09And here, as with SG Pipers, I'm the director of hockey. And now you know that tomorrow is
01:15the mini auction and we are preparing for that. So quite a busy life. And you know, the funny
01:21thing was when I talked to you that time also, you were very eager, eagerly saying that, you
01:26know, I want to be a coach. Coaching is my final goal. And at that point in time, we were
01:31not thinking about retirement or anything, but now it's the reality, right? Like you are
01:35the coach. Like you said, you have to set up things. You have got your assignments coming
01:40up. Sultan Aslan Shah is also coming up and another major tournament, which we will get
01:45to. But you know, when you are as a coach, how much of it is like, kind of like makes you
01:52think like a player as well? You know, when you are seeing your young lads go out there playing
01:57hockey, how much of it is like as a coach and how much of it is like you think as a player?
02:03See, I understand the effort of a player and what the way of their thinking, the struggling
02:12factor, the pressure factor. So I try to be more open with my players. And I kept everything
02:18on the table saying that this is what I want. And this is my dream. And this is my picture.
02:23And you make it colorful. That's it. So they understand it really well. First of all, second
02:27thing is that, as you mentioned, I'm kind of a coach with a mentor. So I share my experience,
02:33how I try to tackle things, how other players used to tackle things, how other players used
02:38to manage their pressure and how they used to play their best performance. So for the
02:44youngsters, I'm a bit strict and competitively not like a jolly type on the field. It's all
02:49about business. You are here to perform. You are here wearing that Indian jersey. That means
02:54it's a responsibility. You are not here to time pass. So I make sure that they are giving
02:59their best to your country to perform better and win medals for our country. And when it
03:06comes to the junior teams, it's a responsible job because from the juniors, they are going
03:11into the future. So kind of shaping the future as well. So we are kind of enjoying it, but
03:17in a different way.
03:18Like you said, you know, it's going almost against your trend. You are one of the most,
03:24you know, like the, the most funniest, like everybody says the funniest man in the group,
03:29the most happiest person to be around in the group, always positive, but then you have become
03:34a completely strict tactician right now. So like, is it all just because now you're being
03:40a coach, you have to be strict or is it like, no, this is how me as a coach, this is going
03:46to be my identity. No, just ask those players how I am on the field. Being a goalkeeper,
03:51I was arrogant. I was sharp. I was strict. I was, I was shouting out everyone to do their
03:56best. So when I, when I shifted my role to a coach, before I used to yell it from the D
04:02and now I'm yelling it from the sideline. That's all. That's the difference. So on the
04:06field, my duty is to give my hundred percentage. And as you mentioned before, coaching was my
04:12passion. I mean, I know my, my target was like finish your 12th, doing BPA, MPN, NIS,
04:19becoming a coach. That was my plan. But fortunately I, I changed my path. I become a player. I played
04:25enough. I learned a lot. I've been with a lot of coaches, you know, more than, more than 60
04:30to 17 coaches I've been with. I got their flavors in me. I do have my ideas, how to, what to do
04:36and how to do it. So, uh, and, and it's totally different when it comes to, uh, juniors and their
04:43programs, because with the seniors, you can be more, uh, you know, open, you can be more flexible,
04:48but with the juniors, you just need to be more strict because their age is like that. They're
04:53under 21, their hormones changes a lot. They're, they're, I mean, you know, they get easily
04:58distracted by things. So it's really important for me to be more strict comparatively, uh, with a
05:04senior. So, uh, I never changed. This is what I am on the field. I demand performance.
05:09That's all.
05:10You know, now coming to, uh, the big stages, uh, you have got the Aslan Shah Cup and then
05:16you have got your biggest test. Probably as a coach, your biggest test is the Junior World
05:21Cup. You know, last time, funny, funnily enough, 2016, when India won the Junior World
05:26Cup, you were there, you're part of the coaching staff. You were the goalkeeping coach. I've
05:31seen videos of you celebrating the goals. You had Harman, you have Mandib, all those
05:36guys coming in through that team. And now they have just won the Asia Cup as well. Can
05:41India, like you are the coach, and I know that you might give that, yes, I want to win
05:46answer, but is it possible that we can end that drought after almost nine years, this time
05:54around in India, in front of a passionate Tamil Nadu crowd, Chennai, Madurai, is it possible?
06:00Yes, the kids are, uh, capable to do that. Uh, it's all about how to handle the pressure
06:05and perform their best. That's all. Because, uh, the, the young generation are more passionate.
06:10They, they do have all the, all the facilities to, you know, sharpen their knowledge and,
06:15uh, to enhance their performance. So, uh, the kids are good and not only me, what I think
06:21doesn't matter because I am not the one who is playing on the field. The players need to
06:25play. So, I'm making sure that we are felicitating them with all the facilities so that they can
06:30perform better on the field that particular time. So, Chennai, you know, that it's a passionate
06:34crowd. Even Madurai as well, uh, the crowd is going to be huge and they are going to cheer
06:39for us. So, I'm preparing them for that. And, and I, I believe that, okay, it's a long
06:44gap. Nine years is like a long gap. So, now it's the time for us to finish in the podium.
06:48And, uh, that's what I'm, I'm trying to do from my side. And, uh, that is what I'm forcing
06:53my players also to dream about. Uh, one question that I have, I'm keeping it till the end.
06:59Now, let's go to SG Pipers. You know, last time around, it was, it was almost funny to see you
07:05in the, uh, auction table. You were like, Harmanpreet comes in. Yeah, Sreejesh is there with the battle.
07:11But, you know, you were not able to get those players. But, the interesting fact about SG Pipers was that,
07:17you guys went for young talent. You were very strict on getting young people in. You knew that
07:23it was not going to deliver like immediate success. But, this time around, is that going to be the same
07:29thing? As a director of hockey, you know how this team, your vision for this team, is it going to
07:36change or is it going to remain the same? See, it's not about my vision. It's about
07:41SG Pipers' vision. Uh, our vision is to contribute to the Indian hockey. And, uh, we, we spend a lot of
07:47money on youngsters, so that they are the future of Indian hockey. When the India is looking forward
07:52to 2036, youngsters are the one who is going to perform on that platform. So, that's our mantra.
07:58And, you can see that in our team, we, we do have a huge number of youngsters, the under 21 players,
08:03part. Not only in the men's, even the women's hockey team. Uh, and, uh, this time, okay, with the men's,
08:09okay, we retained almost 17 players with us. So, uh, there is not a big deal with the mini auction,
08:14happens tomorrow. Uh, but for the women's, okay, definitely, there is going to be a new
08:18slot of players coming in, uh, new, new players from Argentina, new players from the other countries
08:23also joining. So, I think, uh, this year, it's going to be a bit fun for the women's,
08:29compared with the, uh, men's. And, and, uh, as I mentioned, the vision is about, uh, how, how can
08:36we, as an SG Pipers, contribute more to, more to the future of Indian hockey? And, and the answer is
08:41there, okay, we are investing more energy, money on the extras. And, uh, you know, last time around,
08:48like I said, the results were not instant. Uh, you finished last in both the leagues, but right now,
08:56when you look at it, there is a little more confidence in you when you are talking that you
09:00have expectations with this team. Uh, you have got the under 21 group, a group that you are working with
09:08very constantly. So, how much of it, now you're being a mentor, you're a director and you're also
09:14a coach. Now, how much of that coach side you keep away when you're being that mentor? When it comes
09:20to being a mentor, uh, what are the things that you do differently with SG Pipers? See, with the SG Pipers,
09:26I'm a director and definitely, as you mentioned, as a mentor, I'm here to support the players. So,
09:31when the role comes to an administration, you need to facilitate the best possible
09:36facilities to the players. And, uh, we do have a very good coaching staff, uh, Tim and Sophie. Uh,
09:41they are coming with their assistant coaches as well. So, uh, majority of the time, it's all about
09:46they're okay with their, uh, facilities and the players are good, happy with their, what are, what are
09:51things we are providing to them and making sure that they're, they're having a hassle-free tournament.
09:56And, uh, being a senior most player, okay, they, I'm approachable to anyone. They can come to me,
10:01they can talk to me and, uh, I make sure that, okay, they, they are mentally stress-free for the
10:06tournament. So, that is what I'm trying for. Now, I, uh, said, you know, one of the things that I am
10:13going to keep for last is that your dream of being a coach, I am pretty sure that extends not just to
10:20the junior team. Right now, your focus is there. The senior men's team, that is your dream, right?
10:25Uh, when can we see that happen? When are you, you know, you always put that goals, right? Uh,
10:33when are you putting that goal of being a coach, being the men's team coach, and probably following
10:39in the footsteps of many, uh, former Indian coaches, great Indian coaches that we have had,
10:45when do you see that happening? And what are your goals when you become the men's team coach?
10:51See, I think, uh, uh, I'm learning now. I'm, I played hockey for 25 years, but, uh, but I think,
10:59uh, uh, I'm taking the baby step in coaching. So, when I feel like, okay, I am, uh, matured enough,
11:06I am capable enough to step into that shoes, then definitely, uh, that will come, but not really soon.
11:12But I, I believe that I'm trying my level best to sharpen my knowledge in coaching. And I'm talking
11:17with a lot of coaches. I'm mingling with a lot of coaches. I'm learning from a lot of coaches.
11:21So, once I feel like, okay, this is the time for the seniors and the right time when Hockey India calls
11:25me, uh, I make sure that, okay, my knowledge and my experience will help the senior team in the right
11:31way. I will be there. And what is the goal? Like, as a coach, what do you want to win with this, uh,
11:38this young team and probably with the senior men's team? For World Cup, for sure. The World Cup,
11:43because I played four World Cup, nothing. Uh, but I played four Olympics, two medals. So,
11:48I think for the men's, uh, senior and junior team, World Cup is the biggest target. Uh, Srijesh, uh,
11:55thank you so much for talking to me. And it's been a pleasure, uh, to talk to our fans as well,
12:01your fans as well. So, it's been a pleasure and all the best for the, uh, Sultan Johar Cup,
12:07the Junior World Cup and the upcoming season of HIL.
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