Manuja Veerappa

Bengaluru

Dec. 9: Dhanraj Pillay has been one of India’s finest forwards and the former national captain is so wedded to the game that he sports a gold ring engraved with a hockey stick!

He may be closing in on 42, but his spirit and passion remain as they were two decades ago when he made his international debut.

A player who has constantly fought for the cause of the sport, Pillay’s outspokenness has often invited the wrath of the people at the helm of affairs.

Earlier this year, Pillay , who was part of the Ad-Hoc committee’s selection panel, was ousted after he made stinging remarks against the Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi.

But the Khel Ratna awardee is unabashed. Speaking on the sidelines of an event here on Wednesday, he says, “I stand by what I said. The IOA which dissolved the Indian Hockey Federation, went back to K.P.S Gill nine months later and extended a hand of friendship. I did say, how could IOA president Suresh Kalmadi go back on his word? He did not like it and I was sacked from the selection panel.”

Although the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has set a February 2010 deadline for Hockey India to conduct the elections Pillay believes it will not happen.

“Personally, I feel we cannot expect a federation to be in place before the 2010 World Cup at home. Although the FIH has set a February deadline, I’m sure it will not be met. I know they will then say they are busy with preparations for the tournament and have no time to conduct the elections. Hockey in our country will progress only if it is professionally managed.”

The four-time Olympian is still critical about the concept of having a foreign coach. “I don’t understand why we need a foreign coach when there is so much talent in our country.

“We have former players like Anil Aldrin, Sandeep Somesh, Gavin Perirera and Ramandeep Singh who can make good coaches. We should start by roping in these people to train teams at the U-12, U-14 and U-18 levels. It is very frustrating to see a foreigner teaching the national players on how to hold the stick and stop the ball. At that level you don’t work on areas like this.

“The current coach Jose Brasa has not coached a national side since 1992, so how does he qualify to coach a national team? I’ve seen him coach and I’m not impressed.

“According to me, there are only two foreigners who are suited for the Indian team and they are Ric Charlesworth and Terry Walsh.”

Also with players getting a meagre $20 as daily allowance, motivation was low, said Pillay.