Rehenesh TP: confidence and courage personified.In a tournament where over 70 goals have been scored in 36 games so far, goalkeepers have also distinguished themselves, though they have not cornered as much glory as the goal scorers in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL).One man who is keenly monitoring the heroics of the goalkeepers is former India goalkeeper and former national goalkeeping coach Brahmanand Sankhwalkar. The Goan legend has hailed the performances of both foreign and Indian goalkeepers in the tournament.“As far as foreign keepers are concerned, I’m happy with the contributions of FC Goa goalkeeper, Jan Šeda, and Gennaro Bracigliano of Chennaiyin FC. But the person who really impressed me the most is Rehenesh TP of NorthEast United FC,” he said in an exclusive interview with indiansuperleague.com.The former India captain and Arjuna awardee went on to add that the spirit shown by the young Keralite, despite making the occasional error, was phenomenal. “The normality he displays after conceding a goal and the way he makes comebacks in matches is great to watch. Sometimes, his attention is more on the opponents than on the ball, which is probably why he makes mistakes. But the confidence and courage he shows despite this is good. He has been consistent as well. It is a great quality in a goalkeeper,” he added.Subhasish Roy Chowdhury: better than before.Brahmanand also singled out Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, the Atlético de Kolkata shotstopper, who was under his charge a few years ago, for praise. “In the ISL I have found him absolutely outstanding and much better than ever before,” he opined.Talking about the India No 1 goalkeeper Subrata Paul, Brahmanand remarked that his performances tend to fluctuate but he’s also been in good nick. “He’s picked up as the tournament has gone on and put in good performances of late. He’s been gaining confidence,” he said. Brahmanand pointed out that courage and confidence are critical for a goalkeeper’s success. “Most goalkeepers are flexible, but power, physique and height are advantages. We may not have that in India. But I believe that if a keeper is flexible and confident in his abilities, he can be a top professional. Look at the Mexican goalkeeper in the recent World Cup, Guillermo Ochoa. He’s not a very tall guy but he put in exceptional performances.”The 60-year-old also gave veteran English gloveman David James the thumbs up. “I’m very impressed with James. He still has the same focus, aggression and motivation that he used to have. Of course, he can’t go back to the same level he was at when he was in the Premier League but just his presence is a learning opportunity for up and coming players,” he averred.A goalkeeper must be always prepared for any eventuality, opined Brahmanand while holding forth on the essential requisites for the position. “A keeper must make sure his focus is always there and he doesn’t depend on anyone. Communication with the players in front of him is very important. Motivation is also required, especially in the ISL, where the recovery period between games is not much. A goalkeeper also needs to be alert because multiple crosses come in, then there are headers to worry about, distance shots etc. Therefore, his concentration should be at peak levels at all times,” he said.
