Interview with Ronit Banda, quarterback for the Hyderabad Skykings (EFLI)

What do you think is one of the most important skills for a quarterback to have?

I think, obviously, the ability to think fast and make quick decisions, because you got to know where everyone is even before you receive the ball and if it doesn’t work out, you got to figure out something else fast and just move on before the defense is all over you.

The basic skillsets so then would be patience and your ability to make quick decisions. If you can throw the ball and you’re fast, but can’t think fast, then there’s no point because you would make a lot of wrong decisions. And once you make a wrong decision, that’s it, you turn it over.

The first season, you played with the Kolkata Vipers, how did the team perform?

Actually, it was a little embarrassing, because we didn’t win any games at all. It was pretty bad. There was a lot of communication issues because there was the Hyderabad team, about nine guys and then we had the Kolkata team with about 10 or 11 guys and then we had the Rajasthan team with another six guys. And there were a couple of Sri Lankan players, so basically we had four teams in one team.

So the coach must have had a tough time putting everything together?

Yes, the Hyderabad coach was the head coach of the Vipers team. We had no choice too since it was just the first season, and everyone was just concentrating on going out and playing the game and showing what the game is all about. So, yes that’s why the first season was a little disappointing from a performance perspective.

So, it’s not a new team as such, just the Vipers team being rechristened as the Hyderabad Skykings?

No, this is a whole new team. Only players from Hyderabad are part of this team now. The nine players from Hyderabad who got selected last year to play for the Vipers are part of this team and there are more Hyderabad players in it. So, it’s a totally new team with new players.

Could you tell us a little bit more about the owner of your team, Dr. Venkatesh Movva? Have you met him in person?

Yes, I have met him. We had a couple of games this past year, we had three exhibition games against Bangalore. And as you know, Bangalore went to the semi-finals last year. And we beat them three times out of three. So you know, with a new team, we played the semi-finalists from last year and we beat them three times.

So any particular tactic or strategy that you put to good effect to get these three wins against Bangalore?

I think I read the defense well. This past year during the summer vacation, I went to Canada for training and I learnt a lot there. Basically, that helped me to read the game a little better, especially their defense and kind of figured out what they were doing.

It’s wasn’t easy, but we managed to use some small tricks here and there to get the job done.

You did mention that you lost all your games last season and it must have been hard, but what was the most enjoyable match of the lot for you?

This might sound bad, but I think the one against the Pakistan team was the one. It was pretty intense and though we lost, it was a pretty cool game. It was very passionate, tough encounter and both sides played hard.

Do you play any other sport other than football?

I run track, I’m into athletics, I run the 200 metres. There are other games such as basketball, tennis and badminton that I play on the side. But these two are the ones I take seriously, as in football and track – the 200 metres.

So, apart from football, which is the one American sport that you follow a lot?

I follow basketball.

And do you have a favourite team in the NBA?

It might sound very clichéd and all, but I like the Miami Heat. And I’m not like a new fan, I’ve always been a fan of them even before this recent period.

Any players that you particularly like a lot?

LeBron James and Blake Griffin, because I like his dunks and stuff.

So, if you were to sum up your entire experience of playing in the first season of the EFLI, what would be the biggest takeaway? How has it helped your career and your life?

I would say the experience was good and I’ve had no problems so far. I think, once it gets a little more organized and once we get sponsors and stuff, which is what they’re working on, I guess, at the moment. They had Kurt Warner come over for one of the Hyderabad games and we had Mark Wahlberg come over and he too is putting in some money for the EFLI.

So far it’s been a good journey and I’m looking forward to see what the second season offers.

What are your expectations from the second season with the new team?

Basically, all the teams have now kind of noticed us. The MVP from the first season, Roshan Lobo was from Bangalore, and then the Best Receiver I think was also from Bangalore and apart from that they had a lot of star players and we managed to beat them three times already. So, a lot of teams have eyes on us.

The players from Hyderabad are not all athletes you know, every single one works hard every day. And that’s why I think all the hard work is paying off.

Do you think American football can take off in a large way in India?

I think so yes, especially since WWE is pretty popular. It has elements of destruction and fighting and stuff you know, and football too does have a little bit of that. And it’s just like chess, but with human people. That would be fun right, more action. Once they start getting a wind of the rules probably, the crowd should grow further. Because every time, at each of the exhibition games that we played this season, there were more and more people.