Having splashed a whopping $96,000 on Florian Fuchs in the Hockey India League (HIL) auction, it was not surprising to see Dabang Mumbai coach Jay Stacy make the German striker work the hardest during his first training session with the side at the MHAL Stadium on Friday. He hadn't even completed a day in the city but by the time he was done, one could tell that he was already feeling the heat.
A reason for the Mumbai side finishing rock bottom last season was the lack of killer instinct in front of the goal. With just 16 goals against their name, it was probably no surprise to see them splash the cash on the 24-year-old striker who was part of the German side that won gold at the London Olympics. Making his debut in the league, Fuchs said that this format brought a different kind of pressure compared to the one felt with the national side. “It (pressure) is always there because I want to perform well. I know how much they spent on me and that's why everyone, including the coach, wants me to fire right from the word go. That sum of money means that there will be expectations. You need to use that and the pressure in a positive way which can work wonders for yourself and the franchise,” said the striker who started playing hockey for Germany's Uhlenhorster Hockey Club at the age of five.
Having missed the league due to studies, Fuchs credits his fellow compatriots playing the league to being the reason for him to come play here. “I had a chat with (Moritz) Furste and (Nicolas) Jacobi (both German national players). They were very enthusiastic about playing here and were extremely happy to know when I was snapped up by the Mumbai side. It wasn't just them, but I did see a lot of the games on television and this seemed like one big hockey celebration. I can't wait for the party to begin,” said the Hamburg resident who has completed his education in business administration.
“It's a university in Hamburg. We have a dual system in which one has to manage college and work at the same time. Plus, I had hockey, which leads to me having a lot on my plate. Besides my hockey gear at camps, I had to fit in my study materials in those big bags. I remember sitting for online examinations right after a training session,” added the avid basketball and football fan.
With Fuchs all set to make his second appearance at the Olympics in August, the striker recollected the time when he was all but 20 when he stepped on the podium in London four years back. “There are very few moments that could top that feeling. My role in the dressing room has changed drastically in these four years. I was the youngest guy then and could just play and do my thing. Having been in the team for the last four years, I'm now the link between the youngsters and the elder guys,” said Fuchs, who was awarded the IHF Young Player of the Year in 2012.
With a seventh-place finish at the Hockey World League Finals last year, Fuchs knows that a hat-trick to gold medals at Rio de Janeiro won't be easy. “The performance in Raipur showed that we have to work a lot more harder. Players in the side now that we are back-to-back gold medalists and with that comes the minimalist expectation that we have to do it for a third time. But we just won't go out there and win matches like that. Australia, Netherlands are always there. Argentina and Belgium are the dark horses,” said Fuchs, adding that the Indian side might just spring a surprise come August.
“They have improved by leaps and bounds. We drew 1-1 against them in Raipur and it showed that they can go head to head with the big boys. They are an unpredictable side to play against and can definitely close in on a podium finish.”
KNOW FUCHS
Date of birth: November 10, 1991
Position: Striker
Team: Dabang Mumbai (signed for $96,000)
Honours: Gold medallist at the London Olympics (2012), Gold medallist at the 2014 Champions Trophy, IHF Young player of the Tear in 2012
