Spiker Azeez on a comeback trail

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Three years ago, back from his two-year stint at a volleyball club in Ras al-khaimah in the UAE, M. T. Azeez wanted to restore his name as a well-established all-rounder in the national team.

With two consecutive call ups for the national team recently he is back in action. At present, playing for the newly-constituted Kerala Police volleyball team in Chennai, the 30-year-old player from Nadapuram is full of confidence about his next international camp.

After his inclusion in the national squad for the Olympic qualifiers, the all-rounder secured another call for the Asia Cup training camp to be held from July 17 in Thiruchendur in Tamil Nadu.

“Playing for country is just another experience. My playing style has helped me to regain prominence in the national team after my return from the UAE,” says Azeez.

A product of SAI centre Kozhikode, Azeez started his career playing for Customs. After his stint with Customs, he joined Cochin Refinery but an offer from abroad took him there. Azeez played for India twice in the SAAF games and the Rashid Tournament before joining the UAE club.

“The experience I got in the UAE was immense. There were several players from other European teams and playing with them helped me a lot to improve my skills and technique,” he says.

A co-player with Tom Joseph, who is also from Kozhikode, Azeez thinks it is the right time for the government to honour the smasher with an Arjuna Award. “He is a brilliant player and was named for the award several times. But unfortunately he has not received it as yet. My prayers are always with him this time as well,” he says.

The player is also happy that the Nadapuram region has returned to its past glory in the field of sports. “Last season several tournaments happened there. It is a positive sign as more players will come up from my area. Though the area has produced several players — for several years the game was almost in the ‘sleep mode’,” he says.