"The fear psychosis is eradicated" - UP Rudras' Cedric D'Souza decodes how Hockey India League will help the players improve [Exclusive]

Indian sports is in the age of franchise leagues. From cricket to kabaddi to arm wrestling and every other sport in between, the country has witnessed the rise of franchise tournaments over the past two decades. While some have floundered, certain leagues have achieved remarkable success — injecting big money and unearthing talent, thereby strengthening the overall ecosystem of the sport.

However, for the sport that started it all, the journey has been a rollercoaster. The concept emerged in the country in 2005 with the launch of the Premier Hockey League, a tournament that was discontinued after four seasons. Years later, the Hockey India League (HIL) began. It met a similar a fate.

Now, the wheels have been set in motion for a revamped version of HIL. Pundits believe that following India's consecutive medals at the Olympic Games, the sport is in much better health and hence, there is every reason to be optimistic.

Sportskeeda caught up with renowned coach Cedric D'Souza for an exclusive chat and tried to decode how the league would benefit the players and Indian hockey in general.

"For Indian hockey, it’s the best thing that could have happened," he said. "The building of the mental, the physical and the game temperament is critical for the future of Indian hockey and this happens in the Hockey India League. Because you’re playing with the elite of the world. You’re playing with the best coaches in the world, the best players in the world. So, your drive as a player and as well as mental equilibrium shoots up."

D'Souza has coached hockey teams from around the world, including the India men's team during the 1996 Olympics. He was also the head coach of the Delhi team in the previous edition of HIL. His side reached the finals twice and even lifted the trophy once.

The inaugural player auctions of the revamped league are set to take place in New Delhi on October 13, 14 and 15. The word is that more than 1,000 players have registered for it — including over 650 domestic players (both men and women).

"For Indian players, the fear psychosis which was there in the past — with the younger players playing against the bigger players of the world — is eradicated immediately because the big players of the world are playing and interacting and are in the same team as the youngsters of our country. And that makes them feel there is no fear anymore. 'I know this guy, he is in my team' and that kind of stuff." explains D'Souza, "So, the fear psychosis is eradicated."

Among men, the international stars who have reportedly registered for the HIL auctions are Alexander Hendrickx, Tom Wickham, Thierry Brinkman, Gonzalo Peillat, and Arthur van Doren. In the women's league Maria Granatto, Rachael Lynch, Delfina Merino, and Nike Lorenz are set to be a part of the bidding war. There would be eight overseas spots in each squad.

D'Souza believes that exposure to different styles of hockey, would not only benefit the young guns, but also help the established players to further refine their game.

"It’s a crème de la crème league of the world. So, it is also your personal ambition to be in it." D'Souza elucidates, "From an established player’s perspective, it is getting your money’s worth. You’re getting your due in terms of financial gain as well as you are maintaining a balance of top level hockey in the year"

He further adds:

"Say, you’re playing Germany vs Holland - they’re playing a certain type of hockey. But here it is an interaction of all kind of cultures and all kind of game styles. So, the players are mixing up. From a national point of view, the bigger players are getting a chance on a regular basis - with 16 matches in 30-odd days - to feel the nuances of our sport."

D'Souza would be a part of the coaching set up of the Lucknow-based team UP Rudras.

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"My hair stands thinking about it" - Cedric D'Souza is optimistic about the impact the women's league will have

Alongside the eight-team men's competition, a six-team women's HIL is set to run concurrently. The matches for this tournament would be held in Ranchi, which is already considered a hub for Indian women's hockey.

Apart from current India players like Savita Punia, Salima Tete and Vandana Katariya, former players like Yogita Bali, Lilima Minz, and Namita Toppo have also registered for the auction.

D'Souza believes that the league would play a huge role in redefining the women's game in the country.

"It is the most fantastic thing that has happened to Indian hockey for women. I am really so happy about it. My hair stand thinking about it!" exclaims D'Souza.

Indian women's hockey too has been on the rise for the better part of the last decade. In 2016, team India qualified for the Olympics for the first time since 1980.

Five years later, at the Tokyo Olympics it came very close to its first-ever podium finish at the quadrennial games. This year, the team made it to the finals of the FIH Hockey 5s World Cup, where they were pipped by the Netherlands.

"If you look, we were so close to getting a medal at the last Olympics." says D'Souza, "This year we didn’t qualify but we were very close. At that level of sport, just one slip-up can knock you out of the situation."

He believes that the HIL would help the players to get mentally stronger and enhance their resilience as well as game temperament.

"(Hockey India League) will make them feel really really strong in their future, build up their self confidence as well as build up their team in totality, which would help Indian hockey. I think the graph is going to shoot up for Indian hockey" says D'Souza.

A 35-day window from December 28 to February 5 has been chalked out for the two tournaments. Hockey fans are hoping that the start-stop journey of the league would finally see a smooth sailing this time.