IOB bank on profitable start

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With international players decorating all positions, the volleyball team of Indian Overseas Bank are always expected to win.

They will be under even greater pressure to deliver at the national club championship, starting at the MRK Stadium, Egmore, from Sunday because the tournament is sponsored by IOB.

J. Natarajan, the senior most member of IOB’s first six, says winning the club championship is a priority for his team.

“The tournament offers us an opportunity to test our mettle with the best in the country. It is not going to be an easy task but we are ready for the challenge,” he adds.

IOB are so keen to scoop the title in their backyard that they set up a special camp in Coimbatore to prepare for the club championship. “We have been training under the guidance of national coach G.E. Sridharan. From fitness to technique, the camp is useful on many fronts,” Natarajan says.

IOB coach P. Sundaram, one of the shrewdest volleyball minds in the country, has a few grey areas to contend with.

“My focus now is on a winning start. We haven’t played a tournament for more than six months. So I’m anxious to see the team strike a rhythm,” he says.

Another worry for Sundaram is his fragile bench. IOB don’t have back-ups for universal D. Selvaprabhu and attacker Natarajan.

“The injury to Karthikeyan during the Indian Volley League has deprived us of an experienced attacker. I have no adequate replacements if I want to substitute Selvaprabhu and Natarajan,” the coach says.

On paper, though, IOB remain formidable. If Natarajan is not past his prime, this team could be invincible.

According to Sundaram, Natarajan has been working hard in the camp to give his best in the tournament. “If my main six click, I will have no cause for concern. Once we get into our groove, we can beat any team,” he adds.

Sundaram reckons BPCL and ONGC will come to Chennai with title hopes. “Preparation is the key. They will certainly be title contenders if they have done their homework well. I’m also wary of Indian Navy. They have seasoned players who have been together for many years. Navy could be the surprise package of the tournament,” he says.

Blocking is one area in which IOB are head and shoulders above other teams. N. Shelton Moses and G.R. Vaishnav are the most reliable pair in the country. Jinson Verghese, the team’s third blocker, can also do a competent job whenever he is called upon.

Watch out for Vaishnav, who has it in him to become the country’s No. 1. The Coimbatore native was a revelation for Kerala Killers in the IVL and the subsequent world junior championship at Brazil.

Vaishnav, whose forte is blocking rather than short ball attacking, will be an asset if he gets more venom into his smashes.

There is no doubt that he has his best years ahead of him. He is such a driven individual that IOB can expect a lot from him.

As usual, Naveen Raja Jacob will spearhead IOB’s attacks. He can tear opponents apart single handedly from zone four and the back court. There is no better sight in Indian volleyball these days than watching Naveen in full flow.

He doesn’t have the height for an attacker in the modern game but his prodigious jump and incredible hand speed more than compensate for the lack of inches. Above all, he is a team man to the core.

Another crucial player for IOB is M. Ukkrapandian. The setter has fallen behind K.J. Kapil Dev on the national pecking order and he will be keen to prove a point through the national club championship. Pandi knows IOB will be as good as his performance in any match.