Five ‘rebel’ players in next camp

BANGALORE: Will the show-cause notices to the five hockey players, who left the first national camp midway through to attend a World Hockey Series promotional event, turn out to be a damp squib?

There are indications that Hockey India may toe the sports ministry’s line and pardon the players but only after its disciplinary panel chairman Pargat Singh gives them a piece of his mind.

The five players have been apparently summoned to Chandigarh for discussions, it is learnt. They will then leave for the second phase of the camp which begins in Bangalore on August 8.

Predictably, the names of all five players figure in the 48-member list provided by Hockey India to SAI. However, there are surprise omissions in the support staff section, with penalty corner coach Jugraj Singh missing from the list.

When contacted, Jugraj said he was unaware of the development. But obviously, the former drag-flicker, who arrived late for the first camp, was not too impressive in his short stint, sources said.

Other who do not figure in the list are coach Clarence Lobo and physical trainer Pradip Datta. While Datta’s work was gradually taken over by Australian exercise physiologist David John, Lobo was used essentially as a videographer. This time, the list comes with a suggestion that a SAI video analyst may be attached to the camp.

Following is the list of coaches and support staff: Chief coach: Michael Nobbs. Coaches: Mohd Riaz, Baljit Singh, BJ Kariappa. Exercise physiologist: David John. Physiotherapist: Srikanth Iyengar. Masseur: Baraf Singh Bansiwal. SAI asked to provide doctor, psychologist, another masseur, video analyst and physiologist.