ROURKELA: Dilip Tirkey and Ignace Tirkey’s omission from the probable list announced by the ad hoc IHF committee has shocked the hockey followers here in Sundargarh, the home turf of these two players.
The hockey players, coaches, organisers and lovers of the game here are finding is difficult to believe the news. Many of them have reacted sharply accusing the ad hoc committee of involving in some foul play while some sensible hockey lovers have also disapproved the way these hockey stalwarts have been treated by the selection committee.
Majority of the people here are of the opinion that these two players are still among the best in the country and are able to serve the national team for another two-three years. One ex national level player and now MLA has threatened to launch an agitation if these two players are not called to the camp.
Congress MLA from Rajgangpur and former state hockey team’s skipper Gregory Minz said that both the players have become the victims of ‘sports politics’.
He demanded that both should be included in the list immediately other wise he would launch an agitation. He said,” sports should be free of politics. Dilip Tirkey and Ignace Tirkey have become victims of it. I strongly condemn the decision’.
Former Olympian and Dilip’s team mate Lazarus Barla said that experienced players like Dilip Tirkey should not have been treated like in such a manner. He still has enough hockey in him and can serve the team. Barla said that if selectors have doubt about his fitness they at least could have included in the camp and there they could have been thoroughly tested his fitness.
Barla further added that Dilip has served the nation for more than a decade and gave his best. His experience is an asset to any team. More over, selectors should have kept in mind the sentimental aspects of a player like Dilip Tirkey. “ He has been hurt by the treatment meted out. Because, because the ad hoc committee consists of all former players, who are expected to understand the sentiments of a players like Dilip Tirkey”
Another former Olympian Michael Kindo also expressed surprise at the omission of these two players particularly of Dilip Tirkey.
He said, “When they can play well in domestic hockey why doubt their ability to play at international level?”
Kindo emphasized on having an experienced defender like Dilip in the team. Moreover new young defenders would learn lot of things from players like him. Secondly, in camps one judge the fitness of any player in a better way.
Kindo advised Dilip and Ignace not to lose heart and continue to play in domestic hockey and force the selectors to take note of them with their performance.
Senior coaches of Hockey hostel, Panposh (Rourkela) S.Toppo and K.C.Choudhury expressing the similar view said that presence of Dilip Tirkey in the camp would have benefited young crop of players. Both the coaches were of the opinion that Dilip should have been called to the camp where he could have tested for his fitness. If Dilip fails in the camp to cope up the training load and match with the speed of young players then selectors can exercise their option.
however, everyone here strongly believes that selectors will realise their folly, sill soon recall the both.