For a whole decade – from 2015 to 2025 – coach Julian Steen (33) remained honky-tonk at Groningen Women 1. When he determined to unfold his wings this summer season, he didn’t go for a membership within the Randstad, however instantly for an journey on the opposite aspect of the world: Jamshedpur, India. There he discovered a job on the discipline hockey academy of metal big Tata Metal. In a spot little like what he knew. “I wished to step out of my consolation zone.
The furthest away sport Steen performed final season with Groningen within the Promotion League was towards Breda, a brisk drive of practically three hours. Now, by way of a WhatsApp connection, he recounts a latest journey by one in every of his youth groups on the discipline hockey academy. On their technique to a match, the gamers and employees members boarded the practice for a journey Steen has by no means confronted even from Groningen: a visit of a whopping 38 hours. Welcome to India.
4 weeks in the past, on July 1, his journey within the chaotic however hockey-mad nation started. Barely landed on the airport in Kolkata, the town that till 2001 went by means of life as Calcutta, a crash course in India awaited him proper on the practice station. Howrah, the station the place he was to take the practice to Jamshedpur, turned out to be the busiest practice station in all of India. With one and a half million passengers a day.
I used to be searching for journey… Nicely, I received that even earlier than I boarded the practice in any respect. Julian Steen
Amid a crowd of hurried Indians, he needed to make his technique to one of many 25 tracks, hoping his practice to Jamshedpur was ready there. ‘Every part was signposted in Hindi. I had no concept the place to go. Fortuitously, I may flip to the station supervisor, who pointed me in the best course along with his arms and ft. As soon as on the best platform the subsequent problem awaited me: which compartment ought to I truly sit in with my ticket reserved on-line? No concept. Fortuitously, an worker stood there as properly, gesturing me to the place I must be. And all amongst a whole bunch of boarding Indians.
‘Fortuitously there was nobody on the roof of the practice, I used to be spared that picture from the movies. However the basic class, for which you’ll be able to’t make reservations, was practically bursting on the seams. I used to be searching for journey…properly, I received that earlier than I even received on the practice in any respect.
Julian Steen is ‘chief coach’ on the Naval Tata Hockey Academy in India. Picture: Naval Tata Hockey Academy
From his bubble in Groningen to chaotic India
His selection of India is the most important leap in his life he ever took, he says. For his research, he moved from his hometown of Castricum, in North Holland, to Groningen. This didn’t turn into a harbinger of an extra journey of discovery by means of the Netherlands. As an alternative, in Groningen he led a life that was stable as a home. He give up discipline hockey and threw himself fully into his teaching profession. Inside two years he managed to work his manner as much as assistant of Women 1 in file time. Three years later, when he was solely 27, he was able to take over from head coach Marc Materek.
How does somebody who has lived comfortably in his Groningen bubble for ten years all of the sudden find yourself at Tata Metal’s discipline hockey academy, deep in jap India? ‘I wished to step out of my consolation zone. An journey overseas, that appeared like the best factor to do. At first I used to be wanting primarily at Germany. I used to be already speaking to some golf equipment there. However then all of the sudden this got here my manner,’ says Steen, saying ‘this’ as if he can hardly imagine it himself.
The sphere of the Naval Tata Hockey Academy in India. Picture: Naval Tata Hockey Academy
By way of Sjoerd Marijne he ended up on the Tata Metal discipline hockey academy.
Steen: ‘It was Sjoerd Woelders – final season coach of Schaerweijde – who put me on the path of the emptiness. He labored on the academy himself. Via him I got here into contact with Sjoerd Marijne, the previous nationwide coach of the Indian girls. Along with Raoul Ehren, Marijne runs the corporate OnFire Hockey Assist, which is chargeable for the technical assist of the academy. After I spoke to him by cellphone and he supplied me the job, I stated I wished to consider it for an additional weekend. However to be trustworthy, I used to be already out once I hung up.’
‘Naval Tata Hockey Academy’ is the identify of the academy Steen is now sinking his enamel into. A discipline hockey academy is a phenomenon that doesn’t exist within the Netherlands. In India, giant corporations resembling Tata Metal, which has a large manufacturing unit in Jamshedpur, are required by legislation to take a position a share of their earnings in social tasks. The sphere hockey academy is a kind of social tasks of Tata Metal. On the east aspect of the town, the metal producer has constructed a whole campus out of the bottom, full with two gleaming water fields, a residential block, a health club, a eating corridor, a therapeutic massage room and all of the trimmings. It’s the “Papendal” of discipline hockey gamers in Jamshedpur.
Julian Steen assists with coaching. Picture: Naval Tata Hockey Academy
For these boys, it’s a springboard to a greater life. It’s their probability to flee poverty and make one thing of their lives. Julian Steen
Skills from the area are rigorously chosen and obtain an intensive schooling on the academy. Collectively they practice and dwell on campus. They’re boys who dream of a greater life than what the cruel actuality of Jamshedpur provides them now. Poverty marks the streets there.
Steen: “Hockey right here means a lot greater than a sport. For these boys, it’s a springboard to a greater life. By proving themselves in discipline hockey, they are often included within the company crew of a serious employer. Meaning they will get on the payroll and construct a future for themselves and their households. It’s their probability to flee poverty and make one thing of their lives.
‘Chief coach’ is the identify of his place, based on the academy’s web site. Within the Netherlands, we’d describe it as technical director, he clarifies. What precisely does he do?
‘I’m chargeable for the event of each coaches and gamers. I strive to not sit behind my desk all day, however relatively to be on the sphere as a lot as potential. I attempt to supply the coaches as a lot assist as potential on the sphere. The contact with the youngest group of skills, the 13- to 16-year-olds, is usually nonetheless a bit tough, as a result of they solely communicate restricted English. However happily, the gamers within the older classes usually already grasp the language. As do their coaches. The intention is that I may also journey with them to tournaments throughout India.’
The campus on the Naval Tata Hockey Academy. Picture: Naval Tata Hockey Academy
Every part is organized; in reality, he doesn’t even have to go away campus
Life on campus is nearly at odds along with his existence in Groningen. His residing area isn’t a lot greater than a lodge room. The inside is proscribed to 2 closets, a desk, a fridge, a number of chairs and a mattress. At 6 a.m., the primary coaching begins earlier than the warmth units in. However he doesn’t complain in any respect. Every part has been organized for him all the way down to the final element. A cleaner comes by day by day. Within the night he sits all the way down to dinner. The truth is, when he’s not at a match with the picks, he doesn’t even have to go away campus.
Sure, life in Jamshedpur could go well with him. ‘I’ve a one-year contract. In about 5 months, I’ll begin desirous about how I prefer it and what I would like right here. Then I’ll have a greater concept of what life right here actually entails. However for now every thing continues to be new and nice enjoyable. I’m totally having fun with it. That is the problem I used to be searching for.
