SATINDER PAL WALIA: A LIFETIME OF A SPORT

Satinder Pal Walia’s is a lifetime devoted to sport. A multi-sport personality in his youth, Satinder has spent all his life promoting sport in every way – as a coach, guiding and grooming raw talent into sparkling finished products, and taking tutelage to higher levels culminating in guiding Indian national squads. Satinder also moved into another area of hockey, that of umpiring and serving on the technical bench even at the highest level. As the author reveals, it was on many occasions a case of so near yet so far when it came to assignments in the topmost bracket but he never relented in dedication and passion in serving the sport he loves. Society must appreciate and honour such a soul who deserves recognition for yeoman service rendered and we feel it’s not too late to do so — Editor     

By RANJIT DALVI

“So near, yet so far!” That’s been the story of Satinder Pal Walia’s career as an international player and umpire and the national coach of our women’s hockey team!
To elaborate, he came close to representing India at the Olympic Games and Asian Games at Bangkok in 1971. As an international Grade I Umpire, the best seen and officiated with, by yours truly in India; he was meritorious enough to be elevated to World Olympic Grade.
He coached the national women’s team bound for the Moscow Olympic Games in 1980; but had to endure the shock of being replaced by Kartar Singh at the last minute. The team which had played a competitive series with the Russians at home thus lost a possible medal!
Strange things have happened in the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) and many others before and after him suffered.
There is another instance where he got short shrift from IWHF. Appointed to the Federation International Hockey Rules Board, a rare honour indeed; he was deprived from attending a single meeting for reasons best known to the federation.

Despite major setbacks, ‘Sati’ continued serving the game with his better half Leela in whatever capacity. Leela a well known hockey international and also a NIS Hockey Coach shaped the careers of several young girls hailing from Haryana to Manipur, right up to Kerala. ‘Team Walia’ patiently moulded the Western and Indian Railways Women’s teams. Their quarters at Matunga used to be a transit camp for the girls till they joined service and were allotted accommodation. Parents of aspiring players would readily entrust their wards to them. So much faith in the couple!

From Eliza Nelson, captain of the Asian Games gold winning team to Rekha Mundapan, Omana Kumari, Madhu Yadav, Rajbir Kaur, Mamata Kharab, Saba Anjum, Suraj Lata Devi all Arjuna Awardees and Selma D’Silva (Padma Shree); he has coached several top-notch players. Many of them would be the subject of independent articles.

Leela like Sati is multi-talented. She represented Maharashtra at the Kabaddi and Volleyball Nationals before deciding to stick to hockey after gaining her international spurs. Sati turned out for Western Railway in the prestigious Harwood Football League in Mumbai for a few years with Balbir Singh the legend. In fact it was an appearance in the Rovers Cup for Fatima Club (Pune) and a chance meeting with Gurbax Singh (Rlys) that opened the doors for Sati’s employment in Western after a long wait of 4-5 years.

Initiated into hockey and football by Rev Fr Edmund (Eddie) Fonseca in Ornellas H S in Pune, Sati was keen on shifting to Mumbai for better prospects since 1963. Having already played at the club level before passing high school, migration to the ‘City of fortune’ was the only way to fulfil his dreams.

His elder brother was employed with Coca-Cola so shifting was no issue. An under graduate, deciding to pursue his studies, he went to nearby Ruparel College in Matunga for admission. Proficient in two games, he was welcomed with open arms. Here he met Leela Nayudu! It’s the only instance in his life, when it has been, “So near and not so far, but closer and closest!” They got married in 1969.

Sati’s career didn’t get the expected boost. Before joining Western he was in Central Railway (1967). But first eleven opportunities were few and far. There was Qayyum from Hyderabad in hockey and Bandya Kakade, a local who later played in the Asian Games Bangkok (1970), where India won its last football bronze. These worthies were first choices and breaking into the first eleven was too difficult. Quite dejected, he returned home.

But a few months later Sati was back playing for Fatima Club in the Rovers Cup. A couple of good matches and a chance meeting with Gurbax Singh who offered a good job, was all that he needed for his career to be on the right track or precisely, ‘Tracks’! Starting and finishing his tenure as a motorman, piloting local trains, the stylish and immaculately dressed Sardar often attracted thousands of eyeballs while driving and at the stations.

A clavicle fracture kept him out of the Railways team for the Nationals at Pune (1967). But lady luck smiled on him. Western soon won the prestigious Aga Khan Cup. This earned him a call for the national camp at Patiala to prepare for the Mexico Olympics.

India was experiencing a void as legendary goalkeeper triple Olympian Shankar Laxman had just retired. Big shoes to fill for the rest! Sati missed the bus losing out to R A Christy. To the nation’s despair we were left fighting for the bronze; the first time in Olympic history. Cedric Pereira who was in top form edged Sati for the Asian Games (1970).

A twelve- nation tournament in Mumbai came along and as hosts we fielded two teams- India Dark Blues and India Light Blues. Sati earned selection for the Dark Blues. Later, he played a few test matches against West Germany, Kenya, Japan and USSR.

But a queer accident closed the door on his career. He broke his arm, surprisingly in a clash with his own defender Gurdevinder Singh against Tatas S C in a Mumbai League match.

Joe Picardo, a contemporary goalkeeper evaluated Sati thus, “He was good. Brought up in the old school where staying on your feet was the norm instead of sliding.”

Olympian Joaquim Carvalho’s has a different take on Sati, “his positioning in goal, marking of angles and timely charges were his virtues. To me at six feet in boots, that contributed a lot to his success”.

Nevertheless another door opened up! Not just for him, but also for Leela. The couple went on deputation to Patiala for the NIS Coaching Diploma. India’s best ever Coach Olympian Balkishan Singh at the helm of the teaching faculty, handed him the whistle as doing practical lessons was impossible with the arm in a sling!

As the course concluded he gained proficiency in umpiring. After qualifying as a national umpire he was in great demand for tournaments all over India. His judgement was sound and he could control tense situations. In India you needed guts to officiate, particularly up North. Graduating to the international stage in the Asian Games 1982 came the Esanda Cup in Australia next where he even reported for a news agency. A couple of Junior World Cups in Hong Kong and Canada and the Africa Cup was all he got before the curtain came down on his whistling career. A role model for juniors, he continued on the domestic circuit till 1998.

After that he became a Tournament Director. But sadly the IHF overlooked his expertise that would have helped improve the standard of umpiring. For years mediocre, inefficient and biased umpiring has certainly harmed Indian hockey irreparably!

Sati’s Umpires Clinics were enjoyable as he encouraged discussions and debate. It helped aspiring youngsters understand the rules and situations. Mumbai umpires had a reputation of being the best in India. Most outstation umpires who came for the Bombay Gold Cup and Aga Khan too benefited.

Even today he is game to share his knowledge, expertise and experience stretching over five decades. To don so many hats in a single sport is a rarest of rare achievement!

*Author Ranjit Dalvi is a Sports Writer/ Radio and TV Commentator/ National Umpire: Hockey/Football Referee/ Ex-Convenor Mumbai Hockey Umpires Board/ Ex-Managing Committee member, The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd.

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