P. A. Rafel (inset)Kochi: Life has come a full circle for P.A. Rafael, the veteran hockey coach from Kerala. Once again, Rafael has come close to the Dronacharya Award which slipped between the cup and the lip more than two decades back in 1994. That year, the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) recommended him for the coveted recognition. But, his name was struck down from the list.
But this time, Rafael's boys, who are all international players with proven track record, took the initiative to ensure that his name is figured in the list of the probables. Actually, they themselves applied on his behalf.
Rafael has an eventful history in Indian hockey. He introduced revolutionary changes in the way the national game is being played in India. Ironically, he had to pay for that 'sin' too. Rafael fell out of favor with the (IHF) in the name of the path breaking changes he ushered in.
Though he was born in Mala in Thrissur, Rafael spent his childhood in Chennai. After gaining diploma from a polytechnic, he joined National Institute of Sports at Patiala for hockey coaching. In 1971, he joined the same institute as a coach and then trained players in Bengaluru and Chennai. He went on to become the coach of national women's hockey team in 1987 and was in charge of the national under-21 team in 1990.
When the National Hockey Academy was established in 1992, with the sponsorship of Air India, Rafael was appointed there as its head coach and director. There he mentored several stars who later played in the Olympics and the World Cup.
In 1995, he left the country to coach the national men's and women's teams of Thailand as part of the development program of Asian Hockey Federation. Later, he was appointed as the coach of the Singapore national team from 1997 to 2003 and then he trained the Macau team till 2006.
Now, back home with his wife Lalitha, Rafael is leading a retired life at Panakkal House in Mangalathu Road, North Paravur.
