Adrian D'Souza

Adrian Joseph Albert D'Souza
Personal information
Born (1984-03-24) 24 March 1984
Malad, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Bombay Customs, Mumbai.
– Air India, Mumbai.
– Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd.
– Indian Airlines
– Maratha Warriors
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004-2011  India 100
Medal record
Men's Field Hockey
Representing  India
Sultan Azlan Shah
2006 Sultan Azlan Shah2006 Kuala Lumpur
Champions Challenge
2007 Boom Team Competition
Asia Cup
2007 Men's Asia Cup2007 Chennai
Sultan Azlan Shah
2008 Sultan Azlan Shah2008 Ipoh

Adrian Albert D'souza (born 24 March 1984 in Mumbai, Maharashtra) is a field hockey goalkeeper from India, who made is international debut for the Men's National Team in January 2004 during the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Adrian has more than 100 International Caps for his country in all competitions. He has played in all major field hockey tournaments, including the 2006 Hockey World Cup, 2006 Asian Games, 2007 Asia Cup and 2 Champions Trophies. Regarded as one of the most innovative and daring goal-keepers of recent times, Adrian bought the rushing technique to the hockey field.

Early life and education

Adrian attended the St. Anne's School in Mumbai till grade 10. After completing grade 12 from Khalsa Junior College Mumbai, he went on to earn a bachelor's degree in sociology from Rizvi College, Mumbai.[1] While active in sports, he was also a good football player.

Career

Adrian's introduction to hockey happened by coincidence at the age of 9. The regular goal-keeper of his school team did not report for a game and Adrian agreed to play as a replacement.[2] He had a broken tooth by the end of the match and promised never to play keeper again. But his coach was impressed and Adrian since never looked back.

Domestic

He got his first break in the Air-India Hockey Academy as a 16-year-old.

International

Adrian was awarded the best goal-keeper award while being a part of the Junior India team that participated in the 6 Nation Junior Champions Challenge at Gniezno, Poland in 2003.[3] He made his international debut as a senior in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur in January 2004. His performance in the Junior Asia Cup in April that India won earned him the best goalkeeper award.[4] This was followed by four-nation tournaments in Japan, The Netherlands and Germany. He represented India at the 2004 Athens Olympics, which saw India end in the 7th position. In the 8 match test series between India and Pakistan played in October 2004, he was awarded the best goalkeeper for the Pakistan leg (4 matches), while also being adjourned the best player of the series.

D'Souza was captain of the Indian team in the 2005 Junior Hockey World Cup.[5] The same year he was part of the junior team in the 6 nation invitational tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2006 was a busy year for the Indian team with major tournaments lined up and the selectors expected Adrian to play a pivotal role in the team.[6] The year saw him represent the team in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament (Malaysia) in June, the Champions Trophy (Spain) in July, the World Cup (Germany) in September, and ending with the Asian Games (Qatar) in December, while missing the Commonwealth Games in Australia due to an injury.[7][2][8] In 2007, he was part of the bronze-winning team in the Champions Challenge in Belgium and the gold winning team at the Asia Cup.[9] Due to a hamstring injury, Adrian had to pull out from the 2008 Olympic Qualifier camp.[10] India could not beat Great Britain in the final and missed the Olympics for the first time in 80 years. Adrian, along with his parents, watched the game in Mumbai. He was back after a break of 2 months and was selected for the 2 legged 4 Nation tournament in Perth and Darwin. The tournament also included hosts Australia, China and South Korea. Adrian performed relatively well in the 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah cup, having played a great game against Malaysia in the semi-finals. A scored penalty corner from Malaysia could not prevent India from making it to the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah after 13 long years. Facing a tightly contested match against Argentina in the finals, he conceding a goal in the extra-time, with India losing the match.

In June 2012, Adrian was suspended for one year by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for violating an anti-doping rule.[11]

Franchise leagues

Adrian D'Souza plays in the Premier Hockey League for the Maratha Warriors. Participated in the inaugural Super League organized by the Pakistan Hockey Federation. Represented Baloch Lions and was awarded the 2nd Best Goal-Keeper award. Adrian then took part in his first stint in for an International Club. Adrian played for Koln club (Marienburger SC de:Marienburger SC) in Germany.

Awards and nominations

  • Was nominated for the prize of the World's Most Promising Young player Award for the year 2004 by the FIH.[2]
  • Was awarded India’s "Player of the Year" for the year 2004 by the Indian Hockey year book.
  • Was awarded the HISA (Hero Indian Sports Academy) award for best Indian Hockey player of the year for 2004.
Adrian's self designed helmet

Adrian's jersey number is 12, which he considers lucky. He gets his helmets custom made by OBO while designing the graphics himself.[2]

Personal life

Adrian has the Olympic rings tattooed on his torso.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Adrian Joseph Albert D'Souza". www.bharatiyahockey.org. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Rajput, Avinash. "Wonder wall- This Mumbai lad is known as one of the best and the most innovative goalkeeper India has ever produced". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Rising starz". www.old.mangalorean.com. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  4. ↑ "Custodian D'Souza confident of defusing Abbas threat". Deccan Herald. 20 February 2010.
  5. ↑ "Adrian to lead Jr World Cup hockey team". Rediff.com. 14 June 2005.
  6. ↑ "Busy year ahead for Indian hockey, tough task for selectors". DNA. 31 October 2005. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Thakur, Rasquinha for Commonwealth Games". rediff.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Ashley poses with brother Adrian D'Souza". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "Life has come a full circle for Adrian D'Souza". DNA. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "Team named for qualifiers; Kaushik back as women's coach". The Hindustan Times. 19 February 2008.
  11. ↑ "D'Souza suspended for one year". The Hindu. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
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