Finding a new foothold

Finding a new foothold

Thirty- three- year -old Dilip Tirkey was busy playing on the field just over a year ago. An injury has turned the former India captain into a government observer to select the national side.

It may have been over a year since Dilip Tirkey called time on his marathon career, but signs of injury sustained in the course of duty remain. “It's yet to heal completely,” he says of his left foot. “Just when it seems fine and I start doing a little work here and there, the pain returns. The soft tissues have become weak. The ligament's partially torn. I've been advised a few exercises.”

A government-appointed observer on the Hockey India selection committee, the former India captain is, at the time of meeting, in town witnessing trials at the National hockey camp on the Sports Authority of India campus. “After retirement, I was really getting bored,” Tirkey says. “I was used to regular practice, thinking about the game – all of a sudden all this changed. There was family and personal work. I realised I couldn't ever leave hockey.”

The 33-year-old reveals he is planning to build an academy in his native Orissa, though in Bhubaneshwar and not the district of Sundergarh he hails from. “Talks have taken place. Everything will be cleared in five-six months. We're thinking of two age-groups — 13 to 16, and 16 to 21.” The residential facility is to be set up with both government and private help, with other former players like Lazarus Barla too involved.

Away from competitive hockey, Tirkey has not been anything like idle. Later this year, his debut film “Tora Mora Katha Heba Chup Chaap” will hit theatres.

“Bahut difficult naam hai,” he grins. “Some friends of mine were already involved with the movie. They approached me; after retirement I had nothing to do. I had not learnt acting or anything; I just went.”

Shy and humble to a fault, Tirkey is not someone anybody would peg to be an actor. “No, no, I'm not the hero,” he hastens to clarify. “The hero is a boy from a poor family. I play someone who belongs to a good family. The hero meets with an accident near my car. I take care of him and educate him and help him realize his dream of getting into politics (the boy later becomes Chief Minister).”

Back in the hockey setup, Tirkey's job is to aid in the selection of the National side. “Until one year ago, I held a hockey stick and was attending trials myself in grounds,” he says.

“Today, I'm a government observer. It's quite a responsible job. I used to be one of those players… now I have to decide who has how much quality. It's tough. I still have a lot to learn but I'm enjoying it.”

Though having to rule on the future of those he played alongside only a year ago might seem difficult, Tirkey claims he is still on good terms with them.

“Absolutely,” he says. “Vikram [Pillay], Arjun [Halappa], Ignace [Tirkey], Prabodh [Tirkey], Prabhjot [Singh], Rajpal [Singh], Bharat Chetri, Adrian D' Souza – I've played with all of them. That's exactly why I know what they can bring to the team.”

It makes for an oddly poignant picture as the former India captain limps back downhill to his lodgings alone, long after the players and coaches have left the ground. Retired, yes; removed, not quite.