Kozhikode: When Tom Joseph was awarded Arjuna Award on Friday, it was yet another success story for his coach P.A. Joseph. The Sports Authority of India coach is the person who found the player in Tom Joseph and was able to produce four international players from Tom’s famed batch of 1991 at Sports Authority of India centre in Kozhikode.
Moreover, he is coaching the Bharat Petroleum Team, where Tom has been playing for the past 12 years. “He is the first student of mine to receive the Arjuna Award. I am extremely happy and the fact that he is still training under me makes me prouder still. When I conducted his first trial at Kozhikode indoor stadium, I noticed the flare in him. But more than that his ability to adapt and the discipline he showed has helped him achieve the feat," said coach Joseph.
Joseph was appointed BPCL coach two months ago. Known as a strict disciplinarian, his training has helped the player gain the form he had lost during the last season. "Last year, he performed lazily. Due to the Arjuna award fiasco, he attended several reception meetings and was not able to concentrate on court. This year, I gave strict instructions that nothing is greater than volleyball. The results are already in as he has reduced 8 kg within a month of training," said the coach.
"Our aim is to qualify for the Asian club championship to be held nex year. The company has provided all facilities and we are going to rope in two more players. Accoding to me, Tom has the capacity to play in the same form for the next three years. So, that’s a great advantage," he added. Blocker Kishor Kumar, counter attacker Rajiv P, Sunil Kumar and setter Anil are the international players coach Joseph helped create during his stint at Kozhikode SAI.
