Maurits Hendriks (Spain National Coach and formerly Holland coach): PHL is a very innovative concept and I am sure it can bring a lot of professionalism into Indian hockey and will change the way hockey is played all over the world. The short breaks, colourful clothes and the television revolution will certainly make it a popular spectator sport. Hockey players are skillful but unknown to common man PHL and the live telecast is changing that. They are becoming household names. Just like a Tendulkar or a Dravid, hockey players will also be recognised and accepted as stars soon. That will bring in more popularity to the game, more crowds to stands, resulting in more sponsors to the game. I am happy to associate with the new venture as Technical Consultant to the Indian Hockey Federation, in charge of contracting foreign players for PHL and also to guide the coaches here. This year only 13 foreign players for the PHL but I am confident the number will increase in the coming years. The new format is gaining acceptance. Take for instance the Time Out concept. It provides the coaches and the players to think positively and make the best use of the available rules. On Sunday, Rajinder Singh’s Delhi Dazzlers stunned the opposition and everyone by scoring a quick goal within seconds of resuming the game after a Time Out. Their rivals took time to settle down and did not count the 2-minutes properly. When the Time Out ended the players were still in their own half and a brilliant four-touch goal was a masterpiece of the former Indian Coach.

Kashif Jawad (Pakistan Star, playing for Marata Warriors): I have already scored a hattrick in PHL and am very happy to come and play in India. We, India and Pakistan players, are all friends when we are not playing matches. We always go out and eat together and make friendship. Let me tell you, PHL is a very good concept to promote and market the game though I personally did not like so many stoppages. It stops the flow of the game and I am still to adjust to the format. My rhythm is getting disturbed. Back home also there is good response to PHL. In fact, Pak are already planning to have a new league in August 2005. We just finished our Nationals. It is too late for this year. The quality of the games here are very good. See Bangalore or Jalandhar team. Most of them are Indian players and as they get used to the format, the quality will definitely improve.

Arjun Halappa (Captain, Bangalore Hi-Fliers): In the last four days, we have seen some high-quality matches. Bangalore Hi-Fliers played two back to back matches and I am happy the way we played so far. Even in the first match we lost to Sher-e-Jalandhar, was really good. We have not utilised our chances and to an extent we were unlucky. But each player performed his role as per the coach’s advise. We attacked and really put pressure on the opponents. Our counter attack too was good. Even when we lost the ball we moved up front and we used the spaces well. Our coach Ramesh Parameswaran sorted out the weak points in the team meeting and we produced vintage stuff to beat Chennai Veerans next day. This was another classic match. (All as told to B. David)

FACT FILE: PHL is the third League in India after football and Volleyball. In Asia South Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore and Malaysia has hockey leagues. India and Pakistan had so far only National Championships and All Country Cups. Australian Legaue is 14 years old whereas German league is 40 years old. Indian Players who figured in the Foreign Hockey Leagues: Mohinder Lal (Spain), Merwyn Fernandis (Australia), Jagbir Singh (Germany), Pargat Singh (Malaysia), Sarabhjit Singh (Canada), Jude Felix ( 3 countries), Dhanraj Pillay (5 countries), Anwar Khan & Prabhjot Singh (england), Len Aiyappa (Malaysia), Virender Singh (Australia), Md. Riaz (Singapore), B,K. Vashishst (France).
an s2h effort