22 Sep. 2002. It was very hot at 15.00 hours on Saturday at the National stadium in Delhi. Director General of Sports Authority of India braved the heat and was seen talking to the Indian senior team. They had just lined up to play against the India ‘A’ team being trained by coaches Harendra and Boopalan. The DG’s pep talk was not all that inspiring–he was talking about last minutes laspse in the team — but the administrator was trying his best. About a hundred fans were there to watch the match; they were mostly in one training camp or other as the national stadium nowadays is abuzz with activity.

The match started. Senior India coach Rajinder Singh played his best eleven in the start up. Due to some delay in the transport, five crucial players could not reach the venue on time and hence Boopalan had to play his just available eleven. As the match grew, Senior team took a lead, then they faced tremondous pressure from the other side. They too scored. It’s time to improve the attack. But in one moment Rajinder Singh spotted the midifielders were not helping the team move upfront. Angirily he called both Vikram Pillay and Viren Rasquinha to the sidelines and shouted, “Why can’t you move up. What are you doing there just by standing and watching.”

Dhanraj Pillay was again in his elements. He yelled at Viren as he was sprinting fast, “Viru no one is on you, move up.” Viren understood and moved forward with the ball and released it to Dhanraj right at the midfield line. Otherwise, he would have released the ball near rival D itself. Counter attack developed. As Dhanraj moved with the ball, he pepped up Daljit on his left, “Dalli move fast(bhag, Bhag”). Daljit got the ball from Dhanraj right at the top of D and then had sent it to Deepak for doing the finishing job.

Now the India `A’ was in desparete mood. Their moves were incoherent. Dhanraj shouted at his marker, “Kaise chalega ise, team ko lege chal(Don’t do like this. Move with the team). On one occasion, Dhanraj said sorry to Deepak as he missed a easy chance to part with the ball to his younger mate. Deepak acknowledged it with rising his stick. Good body language from both the stalwart strikers. In the field, I often noticed, Deepak addressing Dhanraj as ‘Dhan’. Dhanraj was substituted twice, thrice in the match so also the entire forwardline. Every time a substitute came for Dhanraj he used the same short name, `Dhan’. Both manager and selector Jalaluddin Rizvi engaged Dhanraj in discussion whenever he was substituted, and as usual, it was all with a loads of smile, laughter.

During the match, daring youngster Jugraj Singh received a nasty cut. He bled profusely and was writhing in pain. Dhanraj, like a couple of others, rushed to the spot and tried to console even before the doctor could reach the spot. DG SAI ordered to take him to best doctor available in the town. Soon the match was over. Seniors scored six goals and the India A just two.

Dhanraj ate refreshments along with team mates at the party hosted by the Executive Director(teams), M.P. Ganesh, at the first floor of the stadium withafter the match. During that time, as he was picking up his eatables, he introduced the caterer to someone, “Yeh hum logoken ke sewa karte hein (this gentle man does service to us). After a good pause, he added, “us ke saath thoda mewa bi kate hein (Along with that he makes good profit too). A laughter erupted. Then Dhanraj rushed to another practice ground and had a hearty discussion with women hockey coach G.S. Bhangu. On the way, he met manager Rupa Saini and addressed her as `Golden Manager`. He told Bhangu, his former coach, that he distributed sweets after the girls won the Commonwealth Gold. Dhanraj, to me is usual self. So also the the Indian team. Minor problem had already been overcome and forgotton exception being an assistant coach with the team.

What I explained so far is what I saw eye to eye. I often go hockey grounds, not on official ivitations by the Indian Hockey Federation alone. When Indian teams are around in Delhi, I almost witness their practice sessions alternate day, the other day reserved for the women team. I did not find any probelm between the players. Am I wrong? The whole media says there are problems; Indian genius Dhanraj is alone; team is split vertically on regional lines and so and henceforth. It’s quite correct there was an undercurrent of disappointment with the junior players the day they read the Indian Express that carried Dhanraj’s reasoning of why India did not do well in bronze medal play off at Cologne. They have soon overcome with it as days passed by. The decision by the national coach Rajinder Singh to retain his trusted 16, which came about after he withstood immense pressure to include some half-willing and unfit heavyweights, has sent correct message to the team. The coach meant business. Once the selection was over and they understood the coach’s firmness, the team was bac