He has been around long enough for David Harte to call himself the ‘elder statesman’ of Irish and world hockey. A trailblazer in more ways than one, Harte not only helped Ireland qualify for the Olympics for the first in more than a century but also paved the way for others to step out and seek professional success in leagues around the world. A two-time FIH Goalkeeper of the Year, Harte spoke in detail about what the Hockey India League means, the secret to Craig Fulton’s success and future plans:
How’s it been so far coming back for the Hockey India League?
I think it’s been a fabulous experience so far. I had seen a lot of other cities in India but never been to Chennai so it was great to experience a new city. And it was nice to meet the group. Also, it’s away from here, the hive of activity, so we could really focus on ourselves.
You’re one of the very few who was here during the previous edition of the HIL. That makes you a senior, not just with the Tamil Nadu team but overall in the league itself. What difference do you see from then to now?
I have a feeling that everything — the way the league is set up this time around — is more sustainable. The purse that was there for the players, while it was less, it’s more manageable, especially for the franchises if they’re going to commit to a 10-year period. And a 10-year contract with the Hockey India League is brilliant for the future — for domestic players, young talents, international players, the companies themselves. Also small things like not as much travel with home and away format that used to take a toll on players. From an athletes’ welfare perspective, we’re better prepared here. Those would be the two most obvious changes and I think they’re definitely for the better.
Most of the players in the HIL this time around, both Indian and foreign, are new to the experience. What would you tell them? Because this is not the usual league format the way it is in Europe.
Two things. One, have patience because it’s starting again, there’s always going to be some teething problems but from what I’ve seen, this stay is very comfortable. I think people recognise that there’s going to be some things that may go slightly wrong, there may be some mistakes, whether logistically or other things. All those things you have to be patient with.
Secondly and more importantly, enjoy it because there are many moments you have in your hockey career that you can look back on. And for me this is definitely one. The fact that you get to play in the world’s largest hockey stadium, it’s actually amazing when it’s full and the atmosphere there. It’s my first time, I have never played here before, super impressive.
The time I spent earlier in India, I still have the same feeling. When I stood on that pitch for the first game against Soorma HC, I was just looking around, taking it all in, thinking how lucky and how blessed we are to be able to experience it all. So I think the players should have some patience but also enjoy every minute of it.
A lot of people wanted the HIL to come back but there were also questions whether it would be sustainable. What do you feel and how would you explain this to those who did not come this time and why they should?
I think it depends on how you are as a person, as an athlete, where exactly you are in your career. People are going to be in different phases of their life. For me, as you mentioned, being more the elder statesman, with two small girls at home, it was an incredibly difficult decision to leave, specially for Christmas. But financially, it was definitely beneficial for us and for our future.
Then there’s other people who perhaps felt the money wasn’t what they felt they deserved. That’s a very personal perspective on what they feel they should earn. Again, I was the cheapest foreign player in my very first year in the HIL back in 2014 (for $11,000 by Mumbai) but I was coming over for the life experience. I was going to try and see if I could put my name out there to be picked up again.
And not just the local talent and the Indian juniors, it goes the same for the talented overseas players. If you can manage yourself over here, you can find yourself in any league in the world (he was the most expensive goalkeeper at $65,000 by the time the league was called off in 2017).
But I also found that as time went on, you got to know the team more, the fan base in Mumbai was incredible. And most people, when they’re enjoying things, will perform to their best ability. That’s what I found in those last two seasons in the HIL.
One thing that you fondly look back at from back then — maybe players you became friends with, an experience that has stayed with you?
I think it was quite special that, in that first season all those years ago, I was on the same team with Sreejesh, much before he shot to where he is now with his stardom and fame and the level of goalkeeping he has reached these last few years. P.R. Sreejesh back in 2014 wasn’t the same he is 10 years later. I saw him a couple of days ago in the stadium, we reconnected and had a little bit of fun and joke about those times.
The same goes for (Krishan) Pathak. I played with him also in Mumbai and I told him back then, he was still a junior at that time, that he has the potential to be one of India’s next goalkeepers. It was not to boost his ego but because of what I saw of his ability, his skill set, his hard work and dedication. You’ve seen that now, he was pushing Sreejesh the whole way for selection towards the Olympics and now he’s going to have his time.
Also the other side of the HIL is the fans. When you had a local fan base, you had the same guys coming to most of the matches, you could really engage with them, you know, not just to click a selfie or something but also share some of your kits and that made it extra special. You were seen as Mumbai family even as foreigners. That’s something you do miss this time around.
You’ve been a trailblazer for Irish hockey — you helped them qualify for the 2016 Olympics for the first time in 108 years, you were the first Irish player to move out and play professionally in the ultra-competitive Dutch league, the first Irish player to come to HIL. How much has Irish hockey changed from then to now?
Thankfully, the professionalism has increased, the support and finances and sponsorship that we have now allowed us to compete in the Pro League last year and again this season and helped massively in our preparation for the Paris Olympics. If I’m being honest, where Ireland needs to get to and where we need to go as an organisation, the men’s and women’s teams need to be at those major events consistently.
It can’t be just one four-year cycle and then you miss out the next. I’m not saying you need to go and be on the podium like Australia or Belgium or the Netherlands but you need to be in that top 8-10 teams in world hockey consistently and we’re taking the right steps. The better results you get, the more likely you’re going to receive the funding.
I think there are things we can replicate from the women’s team, of course, what they’ve done. We potentially had our golden era between 2015-2018. We had a historic bronze at the European Championships, qualified for the Olympic Games, qualified for the World Cup and then unfortunately went a bit downhill and it just happened to be at the same time as the women won that historic World Cup silver in 2018.
You could see straight away they benefited with sponsors coming in. It’s amazing how, if you have that little bit more resources behind you, you can create and build a programme that allows and enables and empowers your team to compete with the best.
How do you see goalkeeping itself change from when you started to now?
I think the way the game is going, goalkeepers now need to be a lot more mobile and agile specially with the importance of a shootout. Those eight seconds you need to be in positions that are uncomfortable, often not within your normal range. So you need to be quicker than ever. But I think height wise, everyone’s going to play to their strengths. Regardless if you’re 6’5” like me or maybe 5’8” like Pathak.
He does incredibly well for what he has. I would like to say that I use my strengths in having longer limbs, people might view that in a different way. If you take more of the goal space, maybe you’re a bit more of a presence on the pitch and give a bit more confidence because you’re that presence behind. But I wouldn’t see it as a disadvantage whatsoever because you’ve clearly seen over the tournaments that Pathak has excelled. Maybe you just need to play the game slightly differently.
Craig Fulton was your coach when you guys qualified for the Olympics, now he’s won an Olympic medal with India. What would you say about Fulton as a coach and as a person?
I think success follows him everywhere! A key ingredient for that is he is hockey mad and obsessed and has always been from when I first met him, as my club coach in 2006. We had a Skype call with him and the CEO of of Hockey Ireland when he was in South Africa in 2014 to be the men’s head coach and he left everything behind to come. Too bad Belgium recognised his qualities and took him away but the guy deserves to be on the biggest stage in the world. I owe an awful lot to him for what he did on a personal and national level.
I’ve had a lot of coaches in different leagues and teams and not every coach has the full package — tactically and technically strong but also the personal side of things, the softer skills, the interaction and communication with players, and for me he ticks all the boxes.
At 36, what next for David Harte?
I have short term goals. Right now is to try and do my best here for the Tamil Nadu Dragons, then return to my club SV Kampong to try and retain our Dutch title we won in May. With regards to the Irish team, I had a call with the Irish coach and the goalkeeper coach towards the end of November to say I wasn’t available for the Pro League in Argentina and won’t be available for the Pro League here unfortunately.
It’s just too much time away from family and I’m also working now since the end of August with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (he has a degree in physiotherapy). They have been incredibly supportive to facilitate my dream of playing here.
Published – January 06, 2025 12:23 am IST
Content Source: www.thehindu.com