"Every player is supporting me and I am supporting them," Pillay said emphatically at the National Stadium where 26 probables have been undergoing training for the Athens Games.
Pillay was sidelined by the Indian Hockey Federation for three four-nation tournaments after he pulled out of the team for the Olympics qualifiers in March alleging some players were "talking behind me."
But today, the 35-year-old player appeared quite upbeat about getting another chance to represent the country in a record fourth Olympics and he promised to make it memorable by winning a medal for the country.
"It's a dream for me to play in the Olympics and God has given me a chance to play in my fourth Olympics. Definitely with this team, I am very much sure that we can beat any team in the world. We can also win a medal," he said.
The veteran of over 300 internationals, Pillay also spoke on the training and competition programs scheduled for the team in the build up to the mega event.
India will leave for the United States on June 1 for a 21-day training programme that would see the probables getting specialised training from expert German coachesOliver Kurtz and Gerhard Rach.
The team will have camps in Holland, Germany and Athens besides playing two four-nation tournaments in Amsterdam and Dusseldorf in the lead up to the quadrennial extravaganza.
"Foreign coaches will be of great benefit. We will be getting scientific training which will definitely help us a lot. Foreign coaches can help us in some areas. The tournament will prepare us for the mega event," Pillay said.
The player said despite all the trainings, India's fortunes in the Olympics would depend largely on how the players prepared themselves.
"The more we work hard, the better results we will get," was his advice to teammates.
"We are confident of doing well in the Olympics. But at the same time we also need a lot of support from the people. I request all to pray for the Indian hockey team."
Pillay also indicated that he might decide on his future whether to continue playing at the highest level or hang his bootsafter the return from Athens.
"Right now my aim is to play in the Olympics. After returning I will have a detailed discussion with the (Indian Hockey) Federation.
The IHF might have sprang a surprise by ignoring a few players like Tushar Khandekar and Prabodh Tirkey as probables for the Olympics, but chief coach Rajinder Singh said he was quite happy to have the best players at his disposal.
"I am quite satisfied with the probables I have got. This is the only team we could have named. The players were selected after a lot of experiments. So I don't think we have left out a better player," Rajinder said.
He also said the players are looking to make the most of the scheduled training camps.
"We are working on the areas which need some improvement. I am in touch with the German coaches and chalking out strategies. Their experience will come handy.
"The entire programme has been planned in such a way that it would help the team peak at the right timethat is just before the Olympics," Rajinder said.
Captain Dilip Tirkey also sounded confident when he said he foreign training will help the team go to Athens "with a proper frame of mind."
"The trainings will also deal with the psychological aspect of the players. This is very vital for success in any game," the 27-year-old defender said.
