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 facet of the world: Jamshedpur, India. There he discovered a job on the subject hockey academy of metal large Tata Metal. In a spot little like what he knew. “I wished to step out of my consolation zone.
The furthest away recreation Steen performed final season with Groningen within the Promotion League was towards Breda, a brisk drive of practically three hours. Now, through a WhatsApp connection, he recounts a latest journey by one among his youth groups on the subject hockey academy. On their option to a event, the gamers and workers members boarded the prepare 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 via life as Calcutta, a crash course in India awaited him proper on the prepare station. Howrah, the station the place he was to take the prepare to Jamshedpur, turned out to be the busiest prepare station in all of India. With one and a half million passengers a day.
I used to be on the lookout for journey… Nicely, I received that even earlier than I boarded the prepare in any respect. Julian Steen
Amid a crowd of hurried Indians, he needed to make his option to one of many 25 tracks, hoping his prepare to Jamshedpur was ready there. ‘All the pieces was signposted in Hindi. I had no thought the place to go. Luckily, I might flip to the station supervisor, who pointed me in the proper path along with his palms and toes. As soon as on the proper platform the subsequent problem awaited me: which compartment ought to I truly sit in with my ticket reserved on-line? No thought. Luckily, an worker stood there as effectively, gesturing me to the place I must be. And all amongst lots of of boarding Indians.
‘Luckily there was nobody on the roof of the prepare, I used to be spared that picture from the movies. However the normal class, for which you’ll’t make reservations, was practically bursting on the seams. I used to be on the lookout for journey…effectively, I received that earlier than I even received on the prepare 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 alternative of India is the largest 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 change into a harbinger of an extra journey of discovery via the Netherlands. As a substitute, in Groningen he led a life that was stable as a home. He stop subject hockey and threw himself totally into his teaching profession. Inside two years he managed to work his approach as much as assistant of Women 1 in report 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 immediately find yourself at Tata Metal’s subject hockey academy, deep in japanese India? ‘I wished to step out of my consolation zone. An journey overseas, that appeared like the proper 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 immediately this got here my approach,’ says Steen, saying ‘this’ as if he can hardly consider it himself.
The sector 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 subject 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. By 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 Help, which is liable for the technical help of the academy. After I spoke to him by telephone and he supplied me the job, I stated I wished to consider it for one more weekend. However to be sincere, I used to be already out after I hung up.’
‘Naval Tata Hockey Academy’ is the title of the academy Steen is now sinking his tooth into. A subject hockey academy is a phenomenon that doesn’t exist within the Netherlands. In India, massive corporations comparable to Tata Metal, which has an enormous manufacturing unit in Jamshedpur, are required by regulation to take a position a share of their income in social initiatives. The sector hockey academy is a kind of social initiatives of Tata Metal. On the east facet 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 fitness center, a eating corridor, a therapeutic massage room and all of the trimmings. It’s the “Papendal” of subject 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 a radical schooling on the academy. Collectively they prepare and stay on campus. They’re boys who dream of a greater life than what the tough actuality of Jamshedpur gives 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 subject hockey, they are often included within the company workforce of a serious employer. Which means 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 title of his place, in accordance with the academy’s web site. Within the Netherlands, we’d describe it as technical director, he clarifies. What precisely does he do?
‘I’m liable for the event of each coaches and gamers. I strive to not sit behind my desk all day, however reasonably to be on the sector as a lot as doable. I attempt to provide the coaches as a lot help as doable on the sector. The contact with the youngest group of skills, the 13- to 16-year-olds, is usually nonetheless a bit troublesome, as a result of they solely converse restricted English. However thankfully, the gamers within the older classes typically already grasp the language. As do their coaches. The intention is that I may even journey with them to tournaments throughout India.’
The campus on the Naval Tata Hockey Academy. Picture: Naval Tata Hockey Academy
All the pieces is organized; in truth, he doesn’t even have to depart campus
Life on campus is nearly at odds along with his existence in Groningen. His residing house isn’t a lot larger than a lodge room. The inside is restricted to 2 closets, a desk, a fridge, a couple 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. All the pieces has been organized for him right down to the final element. A cleaner comes by day-after-day. Within the night he sits right down to dinner. Actually, when he’s not at a event with the picks, he doesn’t even have to depart campus.
Sure, life in Jamshedpur might swimsuit him. ‘I’ve a one-year contract. In about 5 months, I’ll begin fascinated with how I prefer it and what I would like right here. Then I’ll have a greater thought of what life right here actually entails. However for now every little thing continues to be new and nice enjoyable. I’m totally having fun with it. That is the problem I used to be on the lookout for.
