HIL Route to Making India Return

Many sidelined from the national squad have bounced back via the league, Rohidas being a shining example

- Sandip Sikdar

ROURKELA: Affan Yousuf glided through the opposition defence immediately after pushback to make a sensational pass to Sukhjeet Singh, who tapped in to put Bengal Tigers on the board 23 seconds into the game, scoring the fastest goal of the Hockey India League (HIL).

The speedy midfielder was in the act throughout the 60-minute contest against Delhi SG Pipers, assisting in three of their four goals, helping the Rupinder Pal Singh-led outfit win 4-1 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here.

The 30-year-old has been outstanding in the HIL, helping Tigers to top the standings with three straight wins. Just like in HIL, the player from Bhopal has been putting in relentless efforts in the domestic circuit with a hope of returning to the national set-up. But his efforts have not yielded results. Affan knows that this could be his time with everyone in Indian hockey focused on this eight-team league.

"Age is just a number. As long as you're performing, the gates are open," said Affan, who guided Petroleum Sports Promotion Board to the Inter-Departmental nationals win in September, which bolstered his confidence of getting picked in the HIL auction.