HIL 2024-25: Soorma Hockey Club Ready to Tackle Hyderabad Toofans Challenge
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Rourkela, Jan 10 (NationPress) Soorma Hockey Club is currently navigating through the first phase of the men’s Hockey India League taking place at the renowned Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. They find themselves just two points shy of the joint leaders – Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers and Tamil Nadu Dragons after competing in four matches. Soorma Hockey Club is eager to maintain their impressive form as they approach the second half of this phase, commencing with a match against Hyderabad Toofans on Saturday.
Up to now, Soorma has secured one outright victory against the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers and achieved two penalty shootout victories against the Tamil Nadu Dragons and Delhi SG Pipers, accumulating a total of seven points.
“Our resilience has been remarkable. Although we haven't always started our games at peak performance, we've consistently shown the ability to recover, fight until the end, and secure wins. This persistence is crucial, and I'm pleased with our ability to not let opportunities slip away as we continue to battle until the final whistle. However, we must improve our starts, which is a primary focus for our upcoming matches,” reflected head coach Jeroen Baart on the team’s performance thus far.
In their recent encounter against Delhi SG Pipers, Soorma was down by two goals in the last quarter. Yet, captain Harmanpreet Singh rose to the occasion, scoring twice with his powerful drag flicks to pull Soorma back into contention. Outstanding saves from Vincent Vanasch during the penalty shootouts ultimately secured a bonus point for the team.
“This is not part of our strategy. We aim to perform equally well in both halves, but sometimes that doesn't occur. The opposition can also adapt their strategies, so we must manage the first half with the appropriate quality, mindset, and intent. While it's not a deliberate choice, I am satisfied with our determination in the second half, which has kept us in third place with seven points. We need to ensure we deliver another strong performance against Hyderabad Toofans,” he elaborated.
The Hyderabad Toofans have secured one victory and a penalty shootout win, placing them just two points behind Soorma. Tim Brand, a 26-year-old Australian forward, has already scored two goals for his team. The Toofans also feature one of the world’s top drag flickers – Gonzalo Peillat.
“We played a practice match against them prior to the League kickoff, mainly to assess our own performance. They have several skilled players near the circle, including Peillat, but we rely heavily on Vincent Vanasch in goal to make a significant impact. While they have talented players, our main focus remains on our own game,” he commented.
“Victor Wegnez is also nearing a return to the field. We are cautious and will evaluate his readiness daily, as he is a vital component of our team,” Jeroen concluded.
