For South Africa’s hockey Olympian, work trip turns into sporting adventure

While he did that, the 25-year-old midfielder also ended up playing in the Mumbai Hockey League for one of the city’s most prestigious and oldest clubs, the Bombay Republicans, which has produced players like former India captain Viren Rasquinha as well as goalkeepers Adrian D’Souza and Suraj Karkera, among others.

The premier local hockey competition began on May 14 and concludes on Sunday. Abrahams, who was in Mumbai when the league started, coordinated with the local hockey association to facilitate his participation before he began training with the team before he was enlisted to play in the league, which returned after almost three years.Abrahams seamlessly fit into the Republicans side that, with an average age of 19-20 years, was one of the youngest in the league, coach Dipika Murty said. “He is a steady player and brought a renewed energy into the team, so he was a truly lucky find for us,” she added.

An international player, let alone an Olympian, playing in the Mumbai league is almost unheard of. Abrahams has been a part of the South African outdoor and indoor hockey national teams since 2017. A crafty midfielder, he was a part of the South African side that punched above its weight at the Tokyo Olympics.

Abrahams said playing in a domestic league in India helped him augment his skills further. “Hockey in India manifests itself in a different format, there is a solid structure play, contrasting tempo, and that’s quite interesting to me. The fast, quick moves and impressive attacking styles are also something I have been fortunate enough to engage in,” he said.

In a way, it was a win-win situation for both sides. While Abrahams gained exposure by playing in India, the young Republicans players, too, benefited by his presence in the dressing room.

All players in the Republicans team were making their league debut as the club — which gets its name because it was founded 60 years ago on January 26 — stuck to its traditions and fielded a young side to unearth new talents. “There is a vast difference in his playing level. So, he has helped us improve our receiving skills greatly,” said 19-year-old Saurabh Mayekar.

Abrahams’s adventures weren’t restricted to the hockey field alone. On his days off, he traversed through Elephanta Island, several temples, and old monuments. “My visit to Pune is something that I cherish, the people were extremely friendly, and the area was relatively safe,” shared Abrahams.

As a player undergoing rigorous training, he has adapted to the carbohydrate-heavy Indian diet quite well, occasionally indulging in the classic butter chicken and Mumbai’s revered snack, vada pav, with paneer being his absolute favourite.

While he does miss home, Abrahams found similarities between the fast-paced lifestyle of his hometown, Johannesburg, and the bustling city of Mumbai. “This could perhaps explain why I haven’t been experiencing massive pangs of homesickness,” he added.