Bengal Warriorz's captain Fazel Atrachali shares key to success for team in PKL: Exclusive

Fazel Atrachali went to the Warriorz’s for a steal price at PKL 11 auction.

If there is a dictionary of Kabaddi being published then words like domination, consistency, and leader will have one common synonym, which is Fazel Atrachali. Having been part of the Pro Kabaddi League since season two, the Iranian has been one of the icons of the league.

Much like other overseas players, he finds his name in the auction more often than not, and every time he has been in high demand. Not only does the team go big for the left-corner defender but also appoints him as the skipper of the side.

After captaining three teams in the last six seasons, the 32-year-old has joined a new franchise Bengal Warriorz in PKL 11. The Iranian is excited about the journey and shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Khel Now.

Here are some of the excerpts from the interview.

Preparation for the season

The skipper is happy to have a strong squad for season 11 of the Pro Kabaddi League. Talking about the preparations, Fazal stressed that his focus in training is on fitness and keeping the team relaxed.

He was quoted saying, “We have a good team and a good coach. Preparation has been in full swing with the focus on maintaining the fitness of the players as it is a long tournament. Also, we wanted to ensure the players stay relaxed and play with a free mind which helps them perform well”.

As a captain responsibility

The skipper relishes the challenge of leading a side full of stars. The Iranian said, “I have been the captain of my side as early as 2013, when I was appointed as the skipper of Iran. While many say captaincy is about handling pressure, I see it as a responsibility to help my team”.

“This year, with the likes of Nitesh Kumar and Maninder Singh in the side, I’ll be a little more aggressive and not worry about staying on the mat to control the game as the experienced duo can handle if I’m on the bench” Fazel added.

Secrecy of Being Consistent

“If you want to be successful in any job, you got to love it. I don’t play Kabaddi for money or fame. I enjoy playing the sport and that brings out the best in myself” said the most successful defender in PKL history who went for just 50 lakhs in the auction.

Watch the full Interview here:

Competitiveness of the league and the raider to challenge him

With every season, teams have started maturing and have been building quality squads which has increased the standard of the league in the last few years. The Asian Games gold medalist emphasized that all teams look equally good with a mix of youth and experience.

The success of a team lies in how strong the players forge their relationship off the field matters. Talking about his feud with any raider, “I have never concentrated on names in any of the games. I want to play for the team and want to perform for the team”.

His role in motivating youngsters in the team

“Every player is different. As a leader, I observe each player and approach them in a way that can help them. Few players need encouraging words, while a few would need yelling to understand.

The youngsters do have a lot of questions and they ask me how I have high accuracy in executing the thigh hold. Each player has to be handled in their way which will help them grow as a player”.

Key to success for a team

Fazel has been one of the most successful players in the league having won two titles and finished runner-up twice as well. The experienced lad shared that the secret is not about having one or two great players but building a strong team.

He cited an example of Pawan Sehrawat and Telugu Titans. “We saw in the last season, despite being a PKL veteran, Pawan was not able to bring success to his team Telugu Titans. We got to have a strong team to win in PKL”.

Personal goals for the season

“Fans and journalists refer to multiple records whenever they meet me. Be it the most tackles or winning Gold in Asian Games, I have been part of multiple records. But it is a feeling for an hour or so and it will be broken by another player one day.

If a team wins, then the joy of being a champion stays forever. The skipper showed why he is a successful team man as he finished the interview saying, “I never care about individual records, winning games is more important to me”.

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