Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh on Saturday said that seven-day special camp for goalkeepers was a good initiative to fine-tune goalkeeping skills.
The experienced custodian along with compatriots Krishan B Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Jugraj Singh, Paras Malhotra, Jagdeep Dayal, Pawan, Prashant Kumar Chauhan, and Sahil Kumar Nayak were part of the camp which began on July 1 under Dennis van de Pol, who was invited by Hockey India to conduct the Camp.
"We focused on important ground basics, and there was a lot of emphasis on PCs and shootout scenarios. This was a good initiative taken by Hockey India as it helps in our preparations. Dennis was particularly good in explaining the minor mistakes we would make. All the sessions were engaging," Sreejesh said in a statement.
Dennis van de Pol who is with Drijver Goalie Academy in the Netherlands as well as the KNHB (Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond), and trains the National Youth in the Netherlands apart from regular assignments with foreign teams were impressed with the available talent in India.
"Initially before I came here I was thinking that there may be some disparity between Sreejesh, Krishan and Suraj and the remaining goalkeepers called for the camp because they don't necessarily have the kind of experience as these senior athletes but they surprised me with their skill, talent and eagerness to learn," Dennis said.
"Someone as Senior as Sreejesh too would ask a lot of questions and be inquisitive about how he can further improve in certain areas. His enthusiasm easily rubs off on other players too and it's good to see younger goalkeepers look up to him. We do have such short camps back in the Netherlands with a mix of Senior and Junior team goalkeepers and this really helps build performance," Dennis added.
In the following week, Hockey India will also conduct a special camp for the Indian defenders.
( With inputs from ANI )