On 15th March, after almost it has become certain that the Indian Hockey Federation is unlikely to sack Joaquim Carvalho and his support team, an emboldened supporting staff, Ramesh Parameswaran sent an elaborative email to a group of journalists. Entitled ‘Olympic Qualifiers – Santiago Chile – 1st March 2008 to 9th March 2008 – Brief Performance Report of Indian Hockey Team’ the mail inter alia accuses of Tournament Director of serious nature. Fortunately, the Indian media ignored the mail as it deserved, except making a passing reference.
It is interesting whether the FIH is aware of the mail?
Under ‘My observations and suggestions’ headings in item No. 7 Ramesh Parameswaran writes the following (Complete text is presented separately in the site):
7. Tournament Director Mr. Willard P.Harris came to the Hotel late in the night on 7th March 2008 – i.e. around 11.30 PM to meet three of our players. Harris was on liquor and was accompanied by two women besides another tournament official. he gave letters reprimanding our players, Mr. Prabjodh Singh, Mr. Vikramkanth & Mr. Gubaz Singh & issued two letters of warning. Since receipt of letters these boys and the other players were totally demoralized. they were psyched out.
This is a various serious allegation against a high level FIH Official, the Tournament Director himself. That it is being raised by one of the supporting staff makes the things very unpleasant.
The FIH is duty-bound to uphold the ethics of field hockey sport. Unsubstantiated accusations of this nature, if goes unnoticed, unchecked and unpunished, will send a wrong signal to the hockey community. It is therefore hoped the FIH takes note of such falsehood emanating from the people in charge of India’s international hockey.
If Carvalho, in order to save his job, accused FIH of conspiracy — implying that his team is so formidable that it needs a conspiracy to defeat! — his deputy goes a step further in immorality and dares a FIH top official of ‘on liquor and was accompanied by two women’.
It is pity, as on date, neither the Indian Hockey Federation nor the coaching staff are yet to say ‘We lost to a better team, sorry, best of luck the winner’. Instead they are indulging in mudslings for which there is no ground. As each day passes by India is being let down in the comity of hockey community as a poor losers and for utter lack of sportsman spirit.