Happy, but... Indian hockey goalkeeper Jude Menezes
After representing the Indian hockey team for five long years, Mumbai's Jude Menezes finally got his due - the Chhatrapati Shivaji award from the state government. "The organisers had informed me long ago about the award but (they) were waiting for the Governor to find time to give it. Finally I (have) got recognition for the effort that I put in all these years," the Indian goalkeeper told Mid-Day yesterday.
Menezes, however, feels he should have got the award long ago. "I have seen some unknown players getting the award. And after representing India for five years (including the World Cup and the Olympics) and serving Mumbai for 10 years, I get the state award," said Menezes, who is nursing a shoulder injury at present.
The BPCL player was in Edinburg, playing the World Cup qualifiers, when he was due to collect the award. "I was in Edinburg, so I asked my wife to collect the award on my behalf," he said.
Right now the goalie's focus is on the World Cup. He opted out of the MCC Murugappa hockey tournament, currently underway in Chennai, to give himself time to be fit for the India camp.
Menezes feels he needs to work harder since Edinburg opened his eyes to a much higher level of hockey being played at present.
I've seen some unknown players getting the award. And after representing India for five years and serving Mumbai for 10 years, I get the state award - Jude Menedes
"I think the competition has become far more difficult. The gap between all the teams has narrowed and there are no more superpowers in the sport. Today any team can beat another. Teams like New Zealand have improved vastly; as has Poland," Menezes said.
"We did not play badly; it's just that we missed too many goals," he added. Menezes, however, accepted that the rapid strides made by even the so-called minnows have done wonders for the sport.
He said the new rule of scoring from inside the 25-yard is "not only dangerous for the defence but (also) makes our job even tougher."
He criticised the Europeans for making the rules to suit their style of hockey.
"Asians effectively have no voice in the Federation of International Hockey (the governing body of the game) and the Europeans are taking advantage of that."
