Padam Sri Ignace Tirkey: “I was not called because of ‘indiscipline’.
Midfielder Ignace Tirkey is a master simpleton. He speaks truth. Another occasion to get the feel of his well known trait came recently at Bhopal. He was there getting ready to come Delhi to receive the top civilian award Padam Sri.
“I really did not expect to get both Arjuna and Padam Sri in the same year, I am delighted it all happened to me. I was even doubtful whether I will get Arjuna in the first place. Now I have got both”, he said with a big grin on his face when I met him at Hotel Residency where Army XI was put by the Obaiduallah Cup organizers, MP Government.
“I watched all the World Cup matches, I should not have missed it. I felt I could have contributed to the team had there been in the team”.
“Yes, now am fully fit, no problem on that count”, he declared.
He was quick to add. “I was in the Pune camp. I went Bangalore for two days. I overstayed for two more days. This was my mistake. After that when I went back I was told I had to be fully fit and sent back. The fact of the matter was that I was penalized for my indiscipline, returning late for the camp”.
Ignace also laments his action and wishes to be back in the scheme of things.
“If they call me for the Azlan Shah Camp, I will be more than happy to respond, especially the Padam Sri award has motivated me”, he added.
Ignace is only the second adivasi player to get Padam Sri after Dilip Tirkey.
Ignace is a talented left half turned centre-half and led India in 2006, has crossed 200 caps last year.
Ignace received the Padam Sri award at the hands of Pratibha Patil, president of India, yesterday in a glittering ceremony. Many actors, social sector stalwarts, sports personalities including badminton sensation Saina Newhal and cricket Virendera Shewag were among this year’s award winners, they too received the award along with Ignace.
1 Comment
Sir, it is a matter of surprise that all the players in question were became
indiscipline/unfit at a time. and most surprising thing is they all were from the same region.if they were not responding (according to officials),than is it not the duty of the coaches to make an attempt to bring back them.it seems they were confident about the team without them? even if these boys were unfit, they were much better then half of the team.if they were unfit then again it is the fault of the coaches.