Rasquinha asks to manage hockey professionally
The other day I heard FIH vice-president Antonio von Ondarza commenting that “hockey is not a professional sport” and that “nowhere in the world a hockey player plays for money”. The statement, coming from such a high-ranking official of the world body, was shocking, to say the least. It was demeaning to the players too. If hockey is not a professional sport, then what is it? But then, if one analyses the statement, particularly in the Indian context, there’s some food for thought.
One of the main reasons behind the pathetic state of the game today is that it has never been managed in a professional way. If you have ‘honorary’ people running the game, you should expect ‘honorary’ results too. Why should we blame the government for anything and everything that’s ailing the game?
I work with Olympic Gold Quest now. We deal with disciplines like boxing, badminton, shooting etc. If we can find sponsors for these sports, why can’t we raise funds for hockey? That’s because we have never marketed the game in a professional manner.
SOLUTION:
The need of the hour is to do away with our ‘honorary’ past and have paid professionals running the game. When the world is embracing that culture, why can’t hockey? If you get paid for your services, you are bound to be accountable.
We simply can’t live in the past. See what has happened to Indian golf. The ruling body (Professional Golf Tour of India) is not only managed by players, but is also managed in a professional manner. No wonder, the players are doing so well. Even in cricket, we have paid selectors and a salaried chief administrative officer Why can’t that happen in hockey? Once kids see money in the game, they will take it up. You can’t just play for passion; you need a handsome career too.