{"id":276545,"date":"2025-04-08T00:33:38","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T00:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/08\/jude-menezes-former-india-hockey-star-with-proven-coaching-pedigree-returns-to-happy-hunting-ground-hil-a-huge-step-for-future-of-womens-game\/"},"modified":"2025-04-08T00:33:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T00:33:38","slug":"jude-menezes-former-india-hockey-star-with-proven-coaching-pedigree-returns-to-happy-hunting-ground-hil-a-huge-step-for-future-of-womens-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/08\/jude-menezes-former-india-hockey-star-with-proven-coaching-pedigree-returns-to-happy-hunting-ground-hil-a-huge-step-for-future-of-womens-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Jude Menezes, former India hockey star with proven coaching pedigree, returns to happy hunting ground: \u2018HIL a huge step for future of women\u2019s game\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last time he was in Ranchi, Jude Menezes enjoyed a momentous high in his coaching career. The former India goalkeeper, who played more than 100 international matches and represented the country at the Sydney Olympics, masterminded Japan\u2019s third-place finish at the Olympic qualifiers as a coach. And at the cost of India, his team booked its tickets to Paris 2024.<\/p>\n

He is now back in the city, this time as the coach of Soorma Hockey Club as the inaugural edition of Hockey India League for women begins on Sunday. \u201cIt brings back pleasant memories here for me,\u201d Menezes told The Indian Express<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a happy hunting ground. But oh, it was a nerve-wracking tournament. You go through some dark places. When you\u2019re winning, everything is great. But when you\u2019re not, there\u2019s apprehension about what might happen. It really tests your composure and puts a lot of pressure on you. I was fortunate to be on the right side of the equation.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Mumbai<\/a>-born Menezes began his coaching journey in New Zealand, where he has lived with his family since 2002. The stint in Japan saw him ascend to the role of head coach. Now finally he gets to coach Indian internationals in the four-team league. He is the only former India international in a head coach capacity across the eight teams in the men\u2019s HIL and four in the women\u2019s.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m privileged and grateful for the opportunity. I watched the last few editions in the previous version (men\u2019s) and wanted to be a part of it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A boost for the global game<\/h2>\n

Menezes is convinced HIL won\u2019t just be a boost for Indian women\u2019s hockey but for the global game. When it comes to Indian sport, franchise leagues for women are still not widely prevalent \u2014 the Women\u2019s Premier League for cricket started only three years back but has already shown encouraging signs in terms of investment and popularity.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a huge step for the future of women\u2019s hockey. Like the IPL<\/a>, which became a mega event, this could be the start of something massive. It will boost Indian and world hockey. It will make the sport more exciting, hopefully draw more crowds, and attract more sponsorship. I hope it skyrockets from here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Working with Indian youngsters will have a special meaning. \u201cAbsolutely gold. These opportunities are rare, I\u2019m fortunate to have this chance and I\u2019ve worked hard for it. It\u2019s not just about coaching hockey; it\u2019s about life. I\u2019m trying to bring out the best in people on and off the field,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve got three or four young under-21s with exceptional talent. It\u2019s a great learning opportunity for them, working with someone like Maria Verschoor, a double Olympic gold medalist. She already gels well with the young athletes. The overseas girls have been fantastic with the whole group and the young Indians will benefit the most.\u201d<\/p>\n

And as a goalkeeper himself, he will be working with India\u2019s best, Savita Punia. \u201cShe is a fantastic leader, works harder than most people I know. Just a lot of respect between us. She\u2019s had a fantastic career, a real rock in the Indian defense. I have had a few losses against India, and Savita has always been key in guarding that goal. It\u2019s great that she\u2019s on my side now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For Menezes, one of the challenges working with the Japanese squad was, of course, communication. Shihori Oikawa, a player who speaks fluent English, had helped Menezes get his message across. Interestingly, he insisted that the players repeat what his message was to ensure it wasn\u2019t lost. \u201cThe most powerful lesson I learned was to be more observant. When someone speaks your language and understands what you are saying, communication can be taken for granted. But when someone doesn\u2019t, you have to become skilled at delivering your message. I learned it\u2019s not about what you say, but what they take away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having lived outside India for a long time now, Menezes needs to pick up his Hindi-speaking skills now. He joked, \u201cI spent four or five days in Bombay and brushed up on my Bambaiya Hindi. It\u2019s not too bad (smiles). I was happy to be back there for Christmas<\/a> and finally got a chance to spend Christmas with my family after eight years. I think I\u2019m slotting into Hindi well. I mix it up in team talks. I ask the girls if they understand my Hindi. They say it\u2019s very good, but I don\u2019t know about that. But when I sit in the rickshaws in Bombay, I feel like I\u2019m at home.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Vinayakk Mohanarangan is Senior Assistant Editor and is based in New Delhi. … Read More <\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n