Hockey row: Pillay plays playmaker in boardroom

PUNE/BANGALORE/NEW DELHI: Indian hockey’s crisis ended on Wednesday with the players getting an assurance from Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi that their demands, including payment of dues, would be met.

With monetary support pouring in from various quarters, including state governments, Kalmadi said he was appointing a six-member committee to manage the funds coming in for the players.

The panel would comprise four former India players, MP Ganesh, Ajit Pal Singh, Zafar Iqbal and Dhanraj Pillay, as well as one member each from the IOA and HI. Pillay has been put in charge of getting the money promised by the sponsors.

Pillay, who rushed to Pune from Mumbai on Wednesday morning, played a key role in the negotiations. After reaching Pune, he went to Kalmadi’s residence for discussions.

The IOA chief had apparently sought Pillay’s help in resolving the matter, and the former captain suggested that Kalmadi should be open about monetary matters while dealing with the players. Pillay then met the players, softened them up and the stage was set for Kalmadi to meet the striking campers.

Following his assurance on several of their demands, the players decided to end the strike.

Kalmadi also made it clear that no player would be targeted for boycotting the camp. This assurance also gave the players the confidence to believe him.

A beaming captain Rajpal Singh said, “We are satisfied with Kalmadi’s assurances. We have come here to play hockey and will put up a good performance in the World Cup.”

Chief coach Jose Brasa said, “There is unity in the team now. Though we have lost six days of practice, we will work hard to make up for that.”

The players revealed that Kalmadi said yes to most of their demands unlike Hockey India president A K Mattoo, who was in no mood to deviate from the refrain that his organization had no money.

“Mattoo didn’t care,” a player told TOI.”But Kalmadi was different. He seemed genuinely concerned about our grievances.

He gave us all a patient hearing. He said that with the sponsors coming forward to contribute Rs 1 crore, the monetary rewards would be paid within a week.

The other issues like contract, gradation of players, insurance, match fees and daily allowances would be placed before the next elected body and implemented before the World Cup.”

What led the players to believe Kalmadi was his readiness to air his assurances to the entire country via the electronic media. “We had every reason to believe the IOA president once he agreed to go public with his promises.”

Regarding Dhanraj Pillay role, the player said: “We all have great regard for Pillay. Obviously, he spoke to Kalmadi about the need to resolve this problem and his presence eased the situation. Without him, perhaps the meeting would have headed nowhere and we would have found it difficult to tackle a few issues directly with Kalmadi. Dhanraj also said that he would fight for us throughout.”