Sentiments and cash flow in equal measure in support of hockey players who are on the national news since four days.
Never ever unheard level of media focus on the plight of players — with almost all television channels tracking the matter ‘Live’ — has started showing results.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati announced Rs. 5 crore to be given to hockey in next two years.
However, first to come forward to get the crisis substantially solved was none other than from the coffers of Sahara India Pariwar, the current sponsors of the national hockey team.
Abhijit Sarkar, Corporate Communication chief, has announced sending of Rs. 1 crore (Rs.10 million) to Hockey India, which will be deposited in a suspense account and will only be distributed to players.
He also informed they make the payment on their own, and were not approached by the Hockey India till now. “We in future would like to see Hockey India’s accounts, how the monies are spent. We have even paid Rs. 70 lac on December 9, which is the advance for the first quarter of this year”.
This is nearly the same amount that would largely satisfy the legitimate demands of senior players now camping in Pune (rs. 4. 5 lac to each player who played all the tournaments / test series in 2009).
The ploy of negatively thinking Hockey India to deploy second string team for the World Cup too boomeranged straight on their face in a telling fashion. VR Raghunath, part of the team all set to go for South Asian Federation Games next fortnight in Bangladesh, openly said the senior players are fighting for them as well. About a dozen players in the Lucknow Second string team’s camp, said the same in one voice. This has effectively sealed the Hockey India’s dubious design of spliting the current crop of players.
A leading insurance company Bajaj Alliance informed the media in a press release they are extending Rs. 2 crore immediately to Hockey India in order to solve the problem.
A cement company from Kolkata also told a television channels that they would chip in for hockey substantially. We already reported both Madhya Pradesh and Punjab States also pledged support if approached.
The problem is Hockey India is not focussing how to solve the problem, instead of approaching those who pledged support, it has taken a beaten path of controlling the players.
Apart from Shah Ruk Khan, film personality Amitabh Bacchan today openly expressed solidarity with the players, and expressed help from his side if asked for. “It is very important to support players”
It is yet another opportunity for Hockey India to consolidate gains, but will it change its attitude is what needs to be seen at this juncture.
Players and the nation is solving the problem in their own way, and we only pity on visiting Ondorza who did not enhance either his personal image or the FIH’s. His views in the current imbroglio is uncalled for, outdated and mostly not welcomed.