Jahangir to replace Ponnappa in Bombay team

A 16-member squad, led by junior international Romeo Albuquerque announced by the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) yesterday went through the final motions of training undeterred by driving rain.

Set for departure on June 22 in time for their opening fixture against formidable Railways two days later, both coach Nasir Khan and manager Clarence Lobo temper their enthusiasm with realistic expectations.

Bombay with Railways and Karnataka in Group H have formidable opponents to contend with. Both outfits have a chunk of players from the senior sides. Jammu and Kashmir is the other team in the group and with just one team going through to the quarters, the city’s lads have a task on their hands.

Lobo guided the city’s senior squads at the National Championships and the Maharashtra side at the National Games with creditable results and was persuaded out taking a vacation by former colleague, Nasir, who believes the former centre-forward’s popularity with juniors would count a great deal.

Nasir, a former international, believes his squad has a chance if they play hard. He says: “The boys have the stamina and skill but the secret for success lies in tough play – it’s the only way to hold our own against the robust, rugged players from the North.”

Indeed, Bombay’s junior players over the years have had mountains to climb against bigger, stronger players from upcountry whose physique invariably raise eyebrows on the status of the event being a junior championship.

“And you can bet our task won’t be any simpler this time around,” Nasir, a former international, cautions.

Nasir, like Lobo is a former Tatas mainstay and looks back on a difficult and prolonged selection task. “It’s purely merit that has counted but it was by no means easy arriving at the final 16. There were multiple contenders for many slots in the squad.”

The squad was announced after rumoured haranguing amongst the selectors which included — besides Nasir himself — Kenkre, Virender Singh, Karim and former India goalkeeper MR Negi.

Amongst the selectoral controversies were the dropping of left-winger Farouque Ummer and the retaining of Romeo Albuquerque, who injured his left index finger two months ago while training at the junior India camp.

Nasir explains: “Albuquerque is fit and ready for battle. I protected him from inordinate risk of injury when the probables trained at Khalsa College ground before coming to the artificial surface here at the Mahindra Stadium. I believe getting back to competitive hockey is the best way for Romeo to fully regain touch and confidence.”

Ummer, a 19-year-old left-winger, is viewed as an enormous prospect. While Nasir does not dispute the former SAI trainees’ potential, he is critical on the hype that often goes with the emergence of a talented player.

Nasir explains: “The pressure often tells and the player more often than not succumbs to it. Ummer has potential, no doubt about it, but despite his selection for the senior squad to Bangalore, he did not perform well enough to get the nod this time.”

Digvijay Naik, will be the first choice left-winger in the absence of Ummer but one can’t help feeling for another player in that position — Claes Ferreira, a nippy little forward whose knocked on the doors of selection for years.

Ponappa, tall and well-built, will be missed under the crosspiece but Sudhir Singh (RCF) should measure up to the task very well. Nasir examines his resources among which the defence will rely heavily on skipper Albuquerque. With a fine tackle and reach made possible by a six-foot frame, the Air-India defender will be the bulwark in defence. Improving in the art of penalty-corner taking, with particular emphasis on variation, the junior international is expected to be the cynosure. He will have an able partner in Cheops D’Costa (RCF) who doesn’t fight shy of dribbling upfield and according to Nasir, a player who gives 100 percent.

Both Nasir and Lobo are upbeat in the midfield and a wealth of resources will brook the use of rolling substitutes. Viren Rasquinha, central midfielder, is the youngest member of the squad at 16 and will be provided with a chance to parade his skills on a national stage. In keeping with his academic prowess, the Tatas recruit another colt from the Bombay Republicans’ stable — has a high hockey IQ and is tougher than a slender physique suggests.

Shayne D’Costa (Mahindras), Lenny Soares (RCF) and left-half Sunil Pereira (Air-India) a contender for the senior squad — are versatile midfielders who, from all accounts are going to form the hub in Nazir’s strategy.

Nasir is pretty pleased with his strike force where spearhead Manoj Lokhande (Air-India) has the dash, aggression and the penchant to go for half-chances. Lokhande will be complemented by Anwar Ahmed (Tatas), alert and quick, belying a laid-back appearance and the contrasting Mahesh Bagade, starting on the right wing, whose omnipresence makes him the engine room.

Nasir has high expectations in inside-forward Shamim Baig (Mahindras) whose fine control at high speed can spell danger to rivals.

But just how much cohesion the squad has acquired remains to be seen. The hurriedly assembled probables have had a little more than a fortnight together and a lack of adequate exposure on AstroTurf brings in apprehension.

To make their campaign stiffer, Bombay play three matches on successive days with two at the National Stadium and one at the Shivaji Stadium. It will place the onus on stamina but Nasir feels his boys are well equipped in this area.