How game-changer Vincent Vanasch is inspiring a generation of goalkeepers

Of the many young Indians who feature in the Hockey India League’s new avatar, two — H.S. Mohith and Jashandeep Singh — are among the most privileged. Even though they have not received much game-time — only Mohith has made his debut, in JSW Soorma Hockey Club’s sixth outing — the two consider themselves fortunate to have legendary Belgian custodian Vincent Vanasch, a great role model and fabulous mentor, as their teammate.

For the Indian duo, watching the ever-reliable Vanasch is an education. The 37-year-old, who helped Belgium win the 2018 World title in Bhubaneswar and the 2020 Olympic crown in Tokyo with his superb showing in the penalty shootouts of both finals, has set a high benchmark in the HIL.

Class is in session

“You learn from him — how he prepares, what he does after training, how he thinks after stopping a good ball, what is his mentality after conceding a goal, what he does during penalty corners and shoot-outs and how he reacts in pressure situations. These are small things that have a big impact,” says 25-year-old Punjab ’keeper Jashandeep, a regular on the domestic circuit.

“After the daily training session, we take guidance from him as to what we did well and what we did badly.”

Vanasch’s contribution can be gauged from the fact that in six (of Soorma’s 10 pool) matches, he made crucial contributions in all three wins. He has done exceedingly well, winning two out of three shootouts.

Mohith, 22, offers an insight into what he has picked up from Vanasch. “We discuss things like head movements — when the ball goes to the side, the head must follow [the ball]. And some of the things he does for shootouts. He watches the videos and gets well prepared before a match,” says Mohith, a 2023 junior Asia Cup gold medallist from Karnataka.

“We are learning from him. For example, in shootouts, a goalkeeper keeps so much space with the attacker. What Vincent does is, he closes down the space between the attacker and himself. The attacker comes under pressure and commits mistakes. At that time, he takes that opportunity to win the ball.

“He says we have to be calm. Our body needs to be relaxed. It doesn’t matter how you save the ball, but you have to save it.”

Just because of the immense pressure, match situations can be entirely different from training, but Vanasch is always well prepared.

“He watches videos of the opposition’s main players before a match. He draws the diagrams on his stick — how they come and how they go. He plays with the players’ mind in shootouts. Some attackers may like to go on the right side of the goalkeeper. But after seeing that video, Vincent thinks if he blocks the attacker’s right side, then he has to go to his left side, which is the attacker’s weaker side, and then he can tackle the ball.

“He watches all the pros and cons. He leads the penalty corner defence meetings and decides what we should do. He discusses everything with PC defence members,” says Mohith, with the mind of a keen student.

Attention to detail

Vanasch provides more perspective about his preparations. “I always analyse the opposition’s corners, shootouts and special individuals with special skills. People have some habits that they like to do during a match, so it’s quite important to know your opponents and get ready. The more you are prepared, the better you’re on the field,” says Vanasch.

“We are, in the HIL, a bit out of our comfort zone. That you can see as well. When a team scores a big goal, after that it becomes chaotic on the field. And it’s just a running type of game, without any control.”

To tackle all such scenarios, one needs mental fortitude. Does Vanasch train his mind to deal with such challenging situations?

“A lot, to be honest. As a goalie, I think the mental side is really important. During a match, sometimes you are not really involved in the game and maybe the first ball is going to come [to you] in the 50th minute, just towards the end of the game. And then you have to stop it. I try to be connected with the players, with the game as well.

“Communication is really vital to stay in the game and to organise everyone in front of me. We are the eyes of the defenders, so we can coach them and put them in the right positions.”

Inspired by Vanasch’s calmness in all situations, Jashandeep takes a cue from the Belgian’s yoga sessions in the morning.

While his younger colleagues look up to him as a role model, Vanasch does not disappoint them. “I try to give quite a lot of tips to them. It’s nice to see that they have a lot of respect and they are listening. When I give a little advice, they try to put that into work. It’s really, really cool to see. I try as much as I can to help them develop their techniques because everyone is different and some have natural capabilities to dive or to stay up.

Work pays off: Vanasch’s meticulous pre-game analysis of opponents gives him an edge in penalty strokes, penalty corners and shootouts. | Photo credit:  Biswaranjan Rout

“They are different in techniques, but with the same hunger. They want to be the best version of themselves. They want to fight, to work. That’s what we love about goalies.”

Adapting to new challenges

After an almost-two-decade-long international career, Vanasch, fondly known as Vinny in hockey circles, notes how the sport has evolved and the need to adapt to new challenges.

“The game has changed. The goalies are really important today — during the match and the shootouts. More goalies are now standing on the line. If you see drag-flicking, it has become much faster. So we have to adapt as well.

“In the past, we could see only tall goalkeepers who took a lot of space. In Belgium, we changed that. I have a normal height, 1.80m. I had to adapt and develop other characteristics and specificities in my game. We just changed the world of goalkeeping.”

Well-known coach Pasha Gademan, who trains Hyderabad Toofans, pays a fitting tribute to Vanasch. “I believe he is incredible, the best goalkeeper not only of this moment but actually of the generations. He changed the goalkeeping game,” says Gademan.

With a well-rounded persona of a champion custodian and a kind mentor, Vanasch and his heroics should motivate a new generation of talented goalkeepers. The HIL may contribute to this and make the tough trade of goalkeeping more popular among hockey fans across the globe.