The spectators were sure that the astro turf legend could not match his footwork to that of his fabled stick work but still there was air anticipation. During the initial part of the game, someone from the stands shouted, “This is not hockey, Pillay.” To which the sporting star had a ready answer, “I know, I play football and hockey with my heart.”

And by the end of the match it was clear that when Pillay is on field a 100 per cent effort is ensured. Former international Jiju Jacob was pleasantly surprised by the Dhanraj show especially by his fitness. “He is a good sportsman. He is very fit and can run really fast, he was the danger man,” he said.

For Jiju it was a reunion of sorts when he met Pillay. “Almost a decade back at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games we were part of the India squad. I had met him then, he was the hockey team captain and I was the member of the football team,” recalls Jiju.

Pillay too was delighted to meet the footballers for whom he has high regards. The presence of former India star Papachhan in the rival team delighted the hockey player. “Papachan is a legend. It was quite an experience to play against such great players,” he said. But Pillay’s wish of meeting Papachan and taking his blessings were not fulfilled today. “I have not given up, I will be back tomorrow to meet him,” says Pillay.

Ironically, there was a footballer in the Kerala XI line-up who too was overawed to share the field with Pillay. Former international footballer Sharaf Ali, who played as defender for Kerala XI, was pleasantly surprised before the game when he saw Pillay’s name in the opposition line-up. “I was shocked when I heard that Dhanraj was playing for the opposition team. But at the same time it was a great opportunity to shadow the great hockey striker,” he says. He almost gets lost in his thoughts as he says, “Where I would have got this kind of opportunity?”

Ali adds that Pillay was the fittest man on the field. “He is an obvious threat to any team. Compared to others in the opposition team, he was good,” he says.