Players call off strike after deal with HI

The ongoing strike by the Indian men’s hockey team was called off after the players were convinced to resume training by Hockey India officials — who agreed, according to sources, to show the players their accounts to prove they were financially in the red.
Six members of the team were in the capital for a promotional shoot, and to meet and discuss monetary issues with Hockey India. The players, training at Balewadi in Pune, had refused practice on Thursday, demanding cash incentives for their good performance in 2009, including a third-place finish in the Champions Challenge in Argentina last month and a monthly retainer for players.

After the meeting, the officials made no promises, with both parties only claiming that “the issues have been resolved by mutual understanding” and that “the players will get back to training in Pune from Sunday.”

“We heard their problems and we agree with their concerns. We have told them that their problems will be looked into and asked them to get back to training,” Hockey India president Ashok Mattoo told The Sunday Express. “There was no talk of any money during the discussions,” he added.

However, sources present at the meeting admit that money was, predictably, at the centre of all discussions. “The players have been promised an incentive of Rs 1crore per player if the team manages to finish among the medals in the World Cup. They were also promised that graded payments would be considered,” a source said.

The source also said that the players, on being told that Hockey India’s contract with Sahara did not mean they were getting a lot of money, demanded to see the federation’s accounts. Mattoo said the ad-hoc committee was only supposed to oversee administrative affairs till the formation of an elected body. “We have elections coming up and it will be up to the new set-up to take concrete decisions,” he said.

India hockey players have, several times in the past, revolted against the federation over issues relating to money. With Hockey India managing to put off taking a decision right away, the onus will now be on the players to keep the pressure up with a strong performance in the World Cup, without which, the issue might fade once again.

Earlier in the day, coach Jose Brasa said in Pune that he’s in complete agreement with the players’ decision to stop training till they reached an understanding. “I stand by the players’ decision and I feel they fully deserve what they are asking for,” he told The Sunday Express on Saturday.

“It is obvious the players must receive a salary. They deserve it becasue they work hard for it. The player’s satisfaction is very important to me,” he said.