Defending champions of the last HIL held seven years ago, the Lancers open the new season in the eight-team competition against UP Rudras at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Monday in their spiritual home of Odisha.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Experienced Australian midfielder Aran Zalewski will captain the side that features the likes of Dutch star Thierry Brinkman, gold medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Belgium\u2019s world-class drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx, alongside rising Indian talents such as goalkeeper Krishan Pathak, midfielder Rosan Kujur, and defender Sanjay to name a few.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYeah, very excited, very excited because it's the best challenge that a coach can have, bringing together so many great players from so many different backgrounds to create something new. So we want to create a Vedanta Kalinga Lancers playing style and identity. And there's nothing I can think of that would make more joy for myself than doing it,\u201d Altenburg said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo it will be very important to have a good connection on pitch with a great crowd and hopefully we can also make the people a home crowd. Everybody is already looking forward and I think the first goal that we're going to score will be very special,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the rationale behind appointing Zalewski as captain, the German said: \u201cHe has a huge impact since he knows Kalinga Lancers, he knows India, he knows hockey. He has a great personality and he's also interested in building a unique Kalinga Lancers culture. So his impact will be huge on both the coaching staff as well as the players.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo it will be very important to have a good connection on pitch with a great crowd and hopefully we can also make the people a home crowd. Everybody is already looking forward and I think the first goal that we're going to score will be very special,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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