Officials responsiblefor hockey mess, not players

By S. Kannan

IN THE good old days, when the Indian hockey team would return with nothing less than gold from the Olympics, money was something which the players never saw.

Stories of legends passing away after having lived in just glory and without seeing money are well known. And even in this age, there are well- known Olympians who work as flight bursars, not feeling bad at the type of work that they have to do.

As India prepares for the Commonwealth Games and huge money is spent by the government for building infrastructure and running national camps, news of the hockey team revolting in Pune is sad.

Opinions have been divided as to how the timing of the strike was wrong. Former champions expressed anguish as to how the Indian team, instead of preparing for the World Cup next month, was now behaving ‘ greedily’. The reality is there was no greed, just that the players, like any professional sportsperson, wanted money due to them.

Unlike cricketers who make money from the domestic events and then get a good deal when they make the international grade, the Indian hockey player leads an average life.

If one has broken into the Indian hockey team, he could be assured of a small job. Or if he is lucky, he could be hired by the Indian Railways, Indian Airlines or Air India as a clerk. Even that keeps the hockey player happy as he knows he will get a cheque every month.

What does that job really give them? Compared to the cricketers, they don’t earn big money and they still have to report for work daily. The exception is, when they are at national camps or represent their employers, they don’t have to report for work.

Some of the hockey players I know who are employed in public sector undertakings are happy that they get to make both ends meet. But the point is, when they retire after having worked for close to three decades, it’s again a struggle.

In the world of modern sports, the top tennis players and golfers rake in big prize money and also have lucrative endorsement deals. Sadly in India, and even Pakistan, hockey players never see any such thing.

People keep reminding the players how hockey is our national game and they should put in their heart and soul when on the field. Yet, when it comes to giving returns for their efforts, there is nothing.

More than blaming the players for going on a strike, we actually should condemn the people involved in running the sport in the country. Just look at the irony: India spends close to $ 8,000 per month plus perks on Jose Brasa, the hockey coach from Spain whom India has hired.

He probably must be feeling embarrassed that the team he is training has to literally beg for money. I have no hesitation in supporting the players who went on strike because they had to do it.

Politicians and sports administrators who want to run ( or ruin?) hockey in India are now so busy in trying to succeed in the Hockey Indian elections, the sport and players are not priority for them.

We had AK Mattoo hold meetings with the players and fail. So, finally what happens? Suresh Kalmadi goes to his constituency Pune and says everything is sorted out.

But I am still sceptical as to what money the players will see even after assurances have been given. From politicians in Punjab to Uttar Pradesh, promises have been made. Some corporates talk of how they will bestow riches on the Indian team if they win the World Cup! Heck, this is not very different from an advertisement for a bumper state lottery, where crores are to be won. At least in a lottery, there is a mathematical chance. But India winning the World Cup sounds absurd.

In the next few weeks, the focus will again not be on hockey but Hockey India. Who will contest, who will collect proxies and what will be the outcome, nobody knows. Yet, given the way sports federations are run in the country, it will require a miracle if the people who are elected to Hockey India come and do something constructive.

Indian hockey has seen glory but anyone who plays the sport today does it out of passion. So, don’t treat them like mercenaries when they ask for money. It is a just demand, and a policy should be formulated where the hockey players get something substantial every month.

After all, they chose to play for the country and we need to respect them — even if they win or lose.