K. ARUMUGAM & ERROL D’CRUZ

Challengers Hockey a team made up of young players roped in by a devoted senior player, not only held their own but reached the final of the Shri NPV Ramasamy Udayar Cup tournament in Chennai.

It’s the institutional sides that rule the roost in Indian domestic hockey. Would anyone have given Challengers XI a ghost of a chance to make the semifinals from a five-team pool boasting the likes of Indian Overseas Bank, Loyola College and St Paul’s Combined XI?

Challengers team mentor Shanmugam

One man did. The senior player dedicated to the cause – V Shanmugam, a 30-year-old who scouted young talent and ensured their food and stay would be taken care of. There haven’t been any sponsors. It’s all from Shanmugam’s own pocket!

And he didn’t flinch at the uphill task ahead of the team. “We set our eyes on winning the tournament,” he, the captain, said ahead of the semifinal against Indian Bank which his team won 3-2.

Challengers now play another well entrenched Tamil Nadu team Integral Coach Factory in the final on Friday.

Just participating in the tournament was a celebration for the Shanmugam and the team. “The exposure is very good. The boys really look forward to playing competitive hockey and with strong teams. And, they are doing it in style.” 

But Challengers didn’t just rest on the opportunity to play. They came to the venue to win every game and hopefully lift the trophy.  They finished unbeaten in their pool and pipped Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) for top spot in the table on goal difference after their engagement ended 2-2. Challengers won their other matches handsomely. They beat Southern Railway 5-2, Loyola College 10-0 and St Paul’s 7-0.

The Challengers will challenge the ICF in the final

This was simply remarkable and begs the question – what’s the secret of their success?

Shanmugam has the answer. “We gave the young players every opportunity to play. The few seniors used the rolling substitution rule to enter the pitch, play for a few minutes while the team. It has worked wonders.”

The captain, an employee of The Accountant General Office, asserts that it was an absolute team effort but none-the-less exuded joy over key players.

“Centre-half Senthil Nayagam has been the backbone of the team. Ganesh, a forward, has scored goals at crucial moments and, of course, our goalkeeper Arun Kumar has been superb,” he said while sizing up the challenge against Indian Bank.

Acclaims en route the final

“We played the semis in the ’re playing at 2.30 in the afternoon and it’s going to be very hot. I’ve asked the boys to hydrate themselves suitably,” he said.

The team was assembled two years ago and has acquitted itself creditably since then. But Shanmugam believes there’s much more to achieve if conditions were improved for hockey players in the state.

“Compared to other states we have many (artificial) turf grounds in Tamil Nadu but there’s little or no access to them by players who long to play. I humbly request concerned departments to take action and provide the use of (artificial) turfs to players which would help produce and develop many more players in Tamil Nadu. Especially in Trichy where there’s an artificial turf ground. Players do not get adequate time to train and play on the pitch,” he said.

Shanmugam then cites the pitch at Tirunelveli which is almost 14 years old. “The pitch is not in good condition and I plead of the government to take steps to change it. It will help Tamil Nadu produce more players,” he implored.

It’s a call for help from a player and a team that has sparkled against all odds. Their exemplary performance should underline their plea for the good of hockey in Tamil Nadu, a state with a rich heritage in the game and one that has produced thrice-Olympic gold medalist in Francis Ranganthan, Vasudeva Baskaran, India’s 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal winning captain, to quote a few.

Incidentally, its V Baskaran  who heads the organizational effort of the competition on the newly laid artificial surface at Sri Ramchandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (deemed University). Baskaran can now be proud the event proved to be a perfect platform for such new outfit as Challengers to emerge and showcase their latent talent, and threw challenge to the established teams in the State. The new environ thus created may do magic for the health of States’ hockey.

Display Pic: (l-r) Ganesh, Mahendran, Sunil, Veerathamizan, Senthilvinayagam