PKL 2019 | Team's victory is priority number one, says Vikas Kandola
PKL
Haryana Steelers’ star raider Vikas Kandola, after their win on Monday, said that his sole focus is on the team’s victory and not on any personal milestones. Vikas has scored 90 points in nine matches so far and his team is currently second on the points table as a result of four consecutive wins.
This was the second time Haryana Steelers played against Puneri Paltan in this season and the results were the same from their previous meeting. They won their last match against Puneri Paltan 27-41 on Monday. Both their departments worked well together and so they were able to inflict two all-outs, one in each half and win the match by a big margin. Vikas Kandola, once again, emerged as a hero for their raiding unit as he played the leader's role and scored 11 raid points.
“I don’t raid for accolades. I raid for my team and to score points for them. The coach has a set game plan on when I go in to raid and when I let the others take the onus. And I follow just that. My philosophy is pretty simple. Team's victory is priority number one. The rest isn’t nearly as important as that,” Vikas Kandola said in the post-match press conference.
His defence supported him well too as they scored 14 points as compared to Pune’s eight points. Skipper Dharmaraj led from the front and finished the match with five tackle points. Whereas Ravi Kumar (4), Sunil (3) and Vikas Kale (2) all contributed as well and scored nine tackle points collectively. Haryana Steelers are currently second on the points table as the team peaked at the right time and left behind teams like Bengal Warriors and Jaipur Pink Panthers and claimed the spot.
“The players have performed well in the past few outings, so their confidence is high and it’s easier to perform when you are feeling confident on the mat. Coach Rakesh Kumar and I go over the game plan meticulously and prepare for every little thing. That has been key,” Haryana Steelers’ Mandar Shetty explained.
