Special Correspondent

The players were protesting non-payment of dues

Mattoo optimistic of finding a solution

NEW DELHI: Hockey India found itself embroiled in further controversy on Friday when the National team probables at the World Cup preparatory camp in Pune refused to take the field in protest against non-payment of “dues”.

The team is preparing for the World Cup to be held in New Delhi from February 28 to March 13.

In a show of strength that has left the authorities embarrassed, the players have demanded immediate solution to their problems related to payments per tournament, including an incentive package promised for winning the bronze medal at the Champions Challenge tournament in Argentina last month.

In a letter to HI, the players had demanded Rs. 25,000 each and pointed out that this was the amount they had been receiving for every tournament in the last three years. The players, who have threatened to boycott the camp, are scheduled to meet HI officials here on Saturday.

Gross indiscipline

Reacting strongly to the manner in which the players have protested, HI president A.K. Mattoo said, “If their problem is genuine, it will be sorted out. I will do it to the best of my ability and capacity. If there are issues, we need to discuss them but this is not the way to go about it. This is gross indiscipline. If need be, we will take disciplinary action against the players.”

Incidentally, the players have signed a code of conduct agreement with HI and the punishment entails not being considered for future selection.

Mattoo said, “These games (like hockey) are not for money alone. You get jobs when you excel at hockey. Money comes later. We must sit down, understand the issue and find a solution. I would like to give them (the players) the benefit of doubt because I think they have been misled.”

Mattoo also clarified that he had not made any financial commitment to the players. “They can’t hold me to ransom. The players should remember that national pride is involved when you are part of the Indian team. How can you just say that you won’t do any training? They can’t take the nation for a ride.”

A top HI official termed the action by the players nothing short of “blackmail” and called for stringent punishment. “What message have they conveyed to the world? When they should be concentrating on training for the World Cup, they are indulging in such needless acts. Let them remember that India has not even qualified for the first-ever Asian Champions Trophy (to be held in Malaysia in April) because we finished fifth at the last Asia Cup. “It was the first time ever India returned empty-handed from the Asia Cup. Let the players concentrate on their game and improve the nation’s hockey prestige,” he added.

Shocked

Mattoo said that the move by the players had left him shocked.

“I am indeed upset and disturbed but I am optimistic of finding a solution. We are involved in the elections of HI and there have been some difficult issues. We have to and we will have an elected body before the World Cup. My role is to have an elected body in place. But, the players should not have resorted to such means. You don’t work like this in sports.”

Rajpal Singh, Sardara Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Sandeep Singh, Tushar Khandekar and Arjun Halappa are expected to be in New Delhi to meet the HI officials.