Jude Menezes, former India hockey star with proven coaching pedigree, returns to happy hunting ground: ‘HIL a huge step for future of women’s game’ | Hockey News

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’s third-place finish at the Olympic qualifiers as a coach. And at the cost of India, his team booked its tickets to Paris 2024.
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. “It brings back pleasant memories here for me,” Menezes told The Indian Express. “It’s a happy hunting ground. But oh, it was a nerve-wracking tournament. You go through some dark places. When you’re winning, everything is great. But when you’re not, there’s 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.”
The Mumbai-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’s HIL and four in the women’s.
“I’m privileged and grateful for the opportunity. I watched the last few editions in the previous version (men’s) and wanted to be a part of it,” he said.
A boost for the global game
Menezes is convinced HIL won’t just be a boost for Indian women’s hockey but for the global game. When it comes to Indian sport, franchise leagues for women are still not widely prevalent — the Women’s Premier League for cricket started only three years back but has already shown encouraging signs in terms of investment and popularity.
“It’s a huge step for the future of women’s hockey. Like the IPL, 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,” he said.
Working with Indian youngsters will have a special meaning. “Absolutely gold. These opportunities are rare, I’m fortunate to have this chance and I’ve worked hard for it. It’s not just about coaching hockey; it’s about life. I’m trying to bring out the best in people on and off the field,” he said.
“We’ve got three or four young under-21s with exceptional talent. It’s a great learning opportunity for them, working with someone like Maria Verschoor, a double Olympic gold medal. 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.”
And as a goalkeeper himself, he will be working with India’s best, Savita Punia. “She is a fantastic leader, works harder than most people I know. Just a lot of respect between us. She’s 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’s great that she’s on my side now,” he said.
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 insed that the players repeat what his message was to ensure it wasn’t lost. “The 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’t, you have to become skilled at delivering your message. I learned it’s not about what you say, but what they take away.”
Having lived outside India for a long time now, Menezes needs to pick up his Hindi-speaking skills now. He joked, “I spent four or five days in Bombay and brushed up on my Bambaiya Hindi. It’s not too bad (smiles). I was happy to be back there for Chrmas and finally got a chance to spend Chrmas with my family after eight years. I think I’m slotting into Hindi well. I mix it up in team talks. I ask the girls if they understand my Hindi. They say it’s very good, but I don’t know about that. But when I sit in the rickshaws in Bombay, I feel like I’m at home.”

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