How game-changer Vincent Vanasch is inspiring a generation of goalkeepers Premium

Learn how young Indian hockey players are benefiting from the mentorship of legendary goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch in HIL.

Of the many young Indians who feature in the Hockey India League’s new avatar, two — H.S. Mohith and Jashandeep Singh — are among the most privileged. Even though they have not received much game-time — only Mohith has made his debut, in JSW Soorma Hockey Club’s sixth outing — the two consider themselves fortunate to have legendary Belgian custodian Vincent Vanasch, a great role model and fabulous mentor, as their teammate.

For the Indian duo, watching the ever-reliable Vanasch is an education. The 37-year-old, who helped Belgium win the 2018 World title in Bhubaneswar and the 2020 Olympic crown in Tokyo with his superb showing in the penalty shootouts of both finals, has set a high benchmark in the HIL.

“You learn from him — how he prepares, what he does after training, how he thinks after stopping a good ball, what is his mentality after conceding a goal, what he does during penalty corners and shoot-outs and how he reacts in pressure situations. These are small things that have a big impact,” says 25-year-old Punjab ’keeper Jashandeep, a regular on the domestic circuit.

“After the daily training session, we take guidance from him as to what we did well and what we did badly.”

Vanasch’s contribution can be gauged from the fact that in six (of Soorma’s 10 pool) matches, he made crucial contributions in all three wins. He has done exceedingly well, winning two out of three shootouts.

Mohith, 22, offers an insight into what he has picked up from Vanasch. “We discuss things like head movements — when the ball goes to the side, the head must follow [the ball]. And some of the things he does for shootouts. He watches the videos and gets well prepared before a match,” says Mohith, a 2023 junior Asia Cup gold medallist from Karnataka.

“We are learning from him. For example, in shootouts, a goalkeeper keeps so much space with the attacker. What Vincent does is, he closes down the space between the attacker and himself. The attacker comes under pressure and commits mistakes. At that time, he takes that opportunity to win the ball.