The Hindu: ‘Uncle Tony’ comes to Tikaram’s defence
19 December 2015
By NandaKumar Marar
Reputed Indian coach based in France offers teenaged defender annual scholarship
A support system is falling in place for Mumbai schoolboy Tikaram Thakulla from Nepal, studying at Our Lady of Dolours School, Marine Lines and playing club-level hockey in the Mumbai Hockey League. His dream of representing India men’s squad in future, despite financial limitations at home forcing father Gopal trying to make ends meet doing double shifts as security guard, was projected in an article titled ‘Tikaram Grabs Hockey Helpline’ in The Hindu Mumbai edition on November 30.
India defender Devinder Walmiki, the youngster’s senior at Bombay Republicans Club which offers match opportunities for talented Mumbai amateurs and youngsters, posted the link on the club Facebook page. The Hindu article has reference to Tikaram, a Standard X student, receiving his first hockey stick needed to play on artificial turf from Walmiki, also a resident of Marine Lines and a drag-flicker.
The Facebook link was read by Mumbai-born hockey professional and entrepreneur Ashley Fernandes, in Lyon, France. Walmiki was contacted in India and Tikaram was chosen for the Tony J Fernandes Award by Ashley, a French men’s hockey international and founder of a NGO (www.playandstudy.com). Fernandes Sr, Tony, is a reputed hockey coach at Lyon and has trained international like Jude Felix, Dhanraj Pillay, Shakeel Ahmed, Harender Singh and Gavin Ferreira in France. Tony met Tikaram at the Mahindra stadium during the MHA League, in Walmiki’s presence.
Timely help
Uncle Tony, as he is fondly known in Mumbai hockey fraternity and his residential locality in Bandra, revealed that the award, funded by the Fenandes family, will take care of Tikaram’s hockey kit and diet supplements required for a hockey career.
In an email to The Hindu from Lyon, Ashley elaborated the details: “A complete hockey kit, and his supplements will be taken care of (as per Devinder’s recommendation). A follow-up next year to assess his performance on and off the field with the possibility to renew the award. Tap into the Play & Study network (former Indian hockey players who came to France) for help in charting his career on and off the field.”
Ashley adds: “Actually this award is just a modest contribution to help players understand the difference between great and good and ultimately open up their minds.”
Ashley captained Racing Club de France to three French league titles, two European Cups in hockey, is an SC.PO Lyon and EMLyon Alumnus (MA, MBA) and Stanford Graduate School of Business Alumnus (Stanford Executive Program), excelling both in sport and studies. France is ranked 17th in men’s hockey, as per latest FIH list. India is sixth.
Play and Study
He explains Play and Study reasoning: “Children’s play is an act of freedom, sometimes the only rare moment away from every day’s heavy burden. In his/her play, the child stretches the limits, goes beyond, recreates and renews his/her world,” he says, referring to himself a philanthropist, entrepreneur, developer and investor.
“Later in sport, the act of playing is disciplined but if the child in the player is able to keep his/her passion, then genius is at work. Look at the great stars, passion is still alive, they are hungry, high on life and it shows! Study is planning for the future and a necessary investment. Knowledge helps you understand the stakes and puts you in a position to choose, and choice is freedom! We believe players can be turned into achievers.”
Tikaram is busy preparing for SSC exams, a crucial point for a schoolboy. Fortunately for him, on the hockey turf, he has always played in older age groups. In the MHA League, the defender is learning lessons the hard way, pitted against forwards looking for the fastest route to goal. The boy blocking their path does not interest them. For the city lad, these hard knocks and bruises are tools to survive on the long road ahead. The Tony J Fernandes Award is on the way, a spring in his step when he steps on the hockey turf next time.