In distinction to the waves of screams gushing via the dugouts from coaches of varied groups on the FIH Women’s Hockey Olympic Qualifiers stands Jude Menezes. The Japan ladies’s crew head coach is extra a silent spectator on the sidelines, observing his gamers go about their business which, in Ranchi, has been to qualify for the semi-finals beating Chile 2-0 on Tuesday and getting a step nearer to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Ranchi: Players of Japan have fun scoring a aim towards Chile throughout their FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 match at Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium, in Ranchi(PTI)
Sure, the previous India goalkeeper could have the frequent quiet phrase with gamers or dish out the uncommon expression of encouragement. But blurt out directions throughout play?
Amazon Sale season is right here! Splurge and save now! Click right here
“That’s simply not my type,” Menezes says in a chat with HT. “I want them to be independent hockey players.”
It’s almost emblematic of the Mumbai-born Menezes’s coaching philosophy with Japan after spending several years as coach in New Zealand. Taking over Japan in late 2021 after their 11th-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, he has overseen a couple of years of rebuilding. With many of their seniors moving away after the home Olympics, Menezes had to retrace the steps of progress with younger players.
Language a barrier (only a handful of players understand English while Menezes has a translator), the coach had to get creative in communication. Much of their training and tactical talk, therefore, is through the use of visuals and videos.
“People perceive and study otherwise. I’m a kinesthetic learner, which suggests I’ve to do it bodily to study it. So, what I do is I’ll say one thing, draw it on the white board, present it on a video clip, after which we stroll via it on the pitch. That method, we cater to all studying kinds. It targets individuals who might perceive issues as soon as they see it via a video clip or if somebody does it,” Menezes says.
It hasn’t been easy, Menezes admits. Especially at the beginning of his tenure when Japan was off-limits for him due to the Covid pandemic and all he had were 10-day camps outside the country before his first two assignments: the 2021 Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) and 2022 Asia Cup. Japan were champions in both.
Since then, it’s been a mixed bag: 11th at the 2022 World Cup, bronze in 2022 Nations Cup, fourth at the Asian Games last year as defending champions and silver at the 2023 ACT.
Familiar rivals India got the better of them at the Asian Games and ACT.
“The pandemic has made it troublesome as a result of we’ve not had too many matches to play. But no matter we have performed, I’ve seen regular progress,” Menezes says.
He factors to China taking part in 45 worldwide matches main as much as the Asian Games in comparison with his crew’s 20. Japan has a de-centralised hockey programme, which suggests Menezes works with the nationwide group for “100-120 days max”. The remainder of the time gamers play membership hockey. “It is what it is. My focus is on what to do with the time I have.”
Good faculty, varsity setup
The hockey system in Japan is “extremely structured”, although. “There are a lot of kids playing hockey because they have a very good school system, good university competition, national competition as well as the club system. You have a lot of kids playing hockey within this structured system.
“It has taken time to develop. There are still things that could be done a lot better. They’re working on it and trying to develop hockey a lot more in the country.”
Areas of enchancment may embrace having a completely funded centralised nationwide programme and opening up the Japanese league to international gamers. “Like IPL. That’s the mannequin,” Menezes says.
However, there has been a definite shift in the mindset since the Tokyo dip in their women’s team. Menezes talks about “podium finishes” as a target in each tournament they turn up for. Remaining unbeaten in the three matches in this event after the ACT silver two months ago, they’re closer to that target again in Ranchi. If that happens, they’ll also book their ticket to Paris.
The coach’s goals, however, are a lot higher.
“Personally, my goal is to see Japan in the top six of the world. I believe we can be a top-six nation. We have the ability to do it. We just need to keep working on those goals.”
Currently 6th in the FIH women’s ranking is India, followed by Asian Games champions China (9th) in the top 10. Japan (11th) aren’t too far behind, while South Korea are 13th. Menezes sees that as a sign of the growing presence of Asian countries in women’s hockey.
“There are four very good teams in Asia who can beat any team on the day,” he says.
“Hopefully it will get higher and higher. We need extra Asian groups on this planet’s prime eight, the place loads of European groups at the moment are. If we will get there, it’s going to be excellent for hockey in Asia and for world hockey general.”
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
