Glorious era of Orissa hockey dawns in Chandigarh night
Chandigarh: The importance of coaches in any game fades into the background and the players are the ones who turn out to be the stars. However, the HIL-V final between Kalinga Lancers and Dabang Mumbai played here Sunday proved as much a tactical battle between the two coaches as what transpired on the field.
Coming into the final, Mumbai had a comparatively easy game Saturday against Delhi Waveriders while the Lancers had to fight very hard before overcoming a stubborn Uttar Pradesj Wizards.
Keeping in mind the stress that his players had to go through in the semifinal, Mark Hager, the coach of the Kalinga Lancers used his senior pros like Moritz Fuerste, Glenn Turner and Aran Zalewski sparingly. He gave them sufficient rest during the game so that whenever they took the field, they never looked out of breath.
Hager’s other tactical brilliance came the way he instructed his players control the area inside the Lancers’ 25-yard mark. He had Pradip Mor, Amit Rohidas, Dipsan Tirkey and Matthew Dawson patrolling the area. Dawson played the role of the sweeper to perfection and nipped in the bud many a dangerous move by the Mumbai side.
“This has been a fantastic victory, it was a tough game but we were able to hold our own,” skipper Fuerste stated during the prize distribution ceremony. “We had said earlier that the league games were warm-up matches and the semifinal and final were the crucial ones. I am happy that we were able to deliver when it mattered the most. I am proud of the team, of the boys… the way they played,” Fuerste who emerged joint top scorer of the tournament with 12 goals along with teammate Glenn Turner, added.
Australian Turner’s joy knew no bounds. “Very very happy. This is a moment that I will never forget,” Turner said after the match. “To have also contributed to the team cause makes me feel happy certainly,” he added.
Dutchman Billy Bakker also couldn’t hold back his emotions. “This is a fantastic moment for me, the team. We were determined to forget last year’s disappointment. We were not ready to lose again after reaching the final,” stated Bakker after the game.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated the Lancers for their fantastic win. “This is a glorious moment for hockey lovers in Orissa and will certainly inspire youngsters to play the game in the years to come,” Patnaik said in his congratulatory message.
Agencies
