News for 11 January 2010
Monday, 11 January 2010 09:28 | 
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All the news for Monday 11 January 2010
Title as good as KLHC's
Jugjet Singh
THREE more matches and Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) can officially claim the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) Premier Division League title.
KLHC, unbeaten after seven matches, lead second-placed Tenaga Nasional by four points and are unlikely to lose any more matches.
UniKL-Ibil, who only have a draw to show, and struggling Sapura and Tenaga Nasional are the remaining teams in KLHC's path to the League title.
"The draw was a blemish on our record, but I see it as a blessing as now my players are more determined to keep a clean record in the remaining matches," said KLHC coach R. Vivekanandan.
And the coach claimed the 1-1 draw against Maybank was a "mental issue".
"The game exposed the mental strength of my players as they lost their grip on the match after taking the lead. I have one week to address the issue and I am confident they will play much better in the remaining three matches," Vivekanandan added.
Tenaga Nasional, Maybank and Sapura will be battling for second spot as they want to avoid KLHC in the knockout stages.
"We need to finish second to avoid KLHC in the quarter-finals. And that is why we will be going to Johor Baru on Monday (today) itself to get used to the pitch," said Maybank coach S. Velappan.
Next weekend will see two matches played at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru which was specially built for the Junior World Cup which Malaysia and Singapore co-hosted last year.
KLHC are not taking any chances and will travel to Johor three days before the match against UniKL-Ibil.
UniKL, a team with an average age of 22, share the same points with Nur Insafi of Penang who have 16 players from India and Pakistan.
New Straits Times
Premier Division leaders feel the pressure as title beckons
By AFTAR SINGH
Fresh legs: Harvinder Singh (right) is key to KLHC’s title bid after recovering from a hamstring injury.
KUALA LUMPUR: The pressure is already mounting on leaders Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) Premier Division.
KLHC played well in the first six matches but they struggled against Maybank and were held to a 1-1 draw at Tun Razak Stadium on Saturday.
Despite the draw they still lead the six-team league with 19 points from seven matches. Tenaga Nasional are in second spot with 15 points.
KLHC coach R. Vivekanandan said that his players lacked mental strength in the match against Maybank.
“We beat them 3-1 in the first round match in Penang last week. But we struggled in the second round match,” said Vivekanandan.
“Maybank went all out to get the better of us while my players were under pressure to score despite creating chances.
“This is not a good sign for us with just three matches left to play for the league title,” said Vivekanandan.
“After playing well in the first six matches they suddenly looked jaded against Maybank.
“I will have to improve their mental strength as we need to win two out of three remaining matches to bag the league title,” said Vivekanandan.
KLHC will play two matches this weekend against Universiti Kuala Lumpur and Sapura on Friday and Saturday respectively at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.
Their last match is against Tenaga Nasional in Malacca on Jan 23.
Vivekanandan added that besides the lack of mental strength, he is also worried about injuries to two of his players.
“Forward Ahmad (Anuar Sham Kamar) has been ruled out of the league after fracturing his finger in the match against Tenaga two weeks ago.
“Penalty corner flicker Baljit (Singh Sarjab) is struggling to score because of his knee injury. Despite his injury, he still wants to continue playing in the league and will only undergo surgery after the league ends on Feb 12,” said Vivekanandan.
Vivekanandan said that he is happy that former national junior forward Harvinder Singh had recovered from a hamstring injury and played well against Nur Insafi and Maybank last Friday and Saturday respectively.
“He almost scored the winning goal against Maybank but his close range shot hit the upright,” said Vivekanandan.
The Star of Malaysia
Grove catch up
A day of fluctuating fortunes in Perth yesterday has left Dundee Wanderers, Grove and Milne Craig Western separated by only three points at the top of the Subway indoor national league in the most competitive season for decades.
Inevitably it was Vikki Bunce who scored both Dundee Wanderers goals in the game of the day against Western, but the Taysiders did lose their perfect record in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
The low scoring was partly due to poor finishing, particularly on the part of Western, but the goalkeeping skills of Wanderers` Carmin Dow and Amy Gibson of Western was also a contributory factor.
After chances fell to both sides in the early exchanges, Angela Davie scored from open play to put the Glasgow outfit into the lead. Within two minutes Wanderers were back on level terms when Bunce converted from the spot. In the closing seconds of the half Western`s Karen Thomson was sent to the sin bin and Bunce squandered a chance to take the lead from an overtime penalty corner.
Thomson made amends just after the interval when she scored from a penalty corner after Dow had saved the initial shot. Again the lead lasted only a couple of minutes as Bunce converted another set piece with a low volley.
As both sides threw caution to the wind for the winner, the best chances fell to Western but they spurned three late penalty corners and a good opportunity that fell to Laura Bartlett.
Wanderers kept their pole position in the table after an 8-0 thumping of Grove`s second string in their later game. In a procession of goals Amy Rowan and Julie Bryce grabbed a double, Sam Sangster, Becka Murray and Rachel Osborne scored one each, surprisingly Bunce only succeeded in getting a single strike.
That result leaves Wanderers a slender point ahead of city rivals Grove while Western are only two points further adrift.
Champions Grove improved their chances of retaining their title with a 3-1 victory over Western in the final game of the day. The Taysiders raced into an early two goal lead through Ali Bell and Louise Carroll from the spot. The Glasgow outfit shot themselves in the foot by missing crucial chances, particularly Kareena Marshall who failed from a penalty opportunity. Finally Western pulled one back when veteran Helen Walker converted a set piece for a 2-1 half time scoreline.
Western missed further penalty corner opportunities and paid the price when Lynsey Glass sealed the three points for Grove with an open play goal with nine minutes remaining.
As predicted, Grove had little difficulty in seeing off their second string with a comfortable 8-3 victory. The champions strolled into a 5-1 half time lead with a double from Ali Bell and strikes from Lynsey Glass, Jaime Lyon and Louise Carroll. Two goals from Jenny Smith and one from Sue Roberts took the score back to 5-3 before Bell (2) and Glass finished off the contest.
The relegation issue is down to a straight contest between newly promoted Inverleith and Clydesdale who are now separated by a single point The Titwood outfit picked up their first points of the season with a 3-1 victory over Inverleith, but both sides then lost their other games against CALA Edinburgh and Kelburne respectively.
CALA moved to the top of the relegation pool with a 5-2 victory over Kelburne, but both sides seem already safe from the drop.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Players to resume 'strike'
s2h team
Indian hockey players seemed not to give up their fight. According to a player who was part of the six senior players who met the Hockey India officials informed that they are not happy with the outcome of the discussion, and are going ahead with the original plan of continuing strike.
The situation is developing. It seems a couple of Hockey India officials will now go to Pune to discuss the issue with the team in Pune -- at last.
Stick2Hockey.com
Hockey players breach truce; boycott continues
Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: In a shocking turnaround, India’s hockey probables for the forthcoming World Cup, have decided not to go ahead with their promised return to the training ground at the conditioning camp in progress at Pune.
Six players had met Hockey India officials here on Saturday to sort out payment issues and captain Rajpal Singh had expressed ‘satisfaction’ at the end of the meeting. The players had skipped a training session and threatened to boycott the camp if their demands were not immediately met.
On behalf of the agitating players, Probjot Singh reportedly said on Sunday, “we want our dues cleared.” He also confirmed that he had support of 21 players on this issue.
According to sources, the six players — Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Halappa, Tushar Khandekar and Sardara Singh — were confronted by the rest on their return to Pune and chided for having agreed to continue with the camp.
Some of the senior players were up in arms at the “surrender” by the six players to Hockey India, which was represented by president A. K. Mattoo and secretary Narendra Batra. The presence of Olympians Ajitpal Singh, Zafar Iqbal and Jagbir Singh added to the stature of the meeting.
A top HI official said, “It is shocking. This behaviour of the players is unacceptable and nothing short of blackmailing.”
On Saturday, the players were allowed to air their grievances without fear. “We told them no one would be victimized. We gave them a patient hearing and they were convinced that we only had their interests at heart.
“They acknowledged publicly that all problems had been sorted out. I simply don’t understand why this change of heart now. They have ridiculed the sincere efforts of a senior man like Mr. Mattoo,” said the official. HI went out of the way to accommodate the requests of the players in the meeting. “The players were shown the accounts, the exact fund we have and they were convinced when we told them our problems. They had many issues like insurance, graded payments, better facilities. Believe me, we assured them that we would do our best to meet their demands and they agreed to return to the camp.
The players, it is learnt, have demanded Rs 3 lakh each before they resume training at the camp in Pune. The players believe that HI has received a hefty sponsorship package from Sahara India and are unwilling to compromise.
According to a player, they want their share of sponsorship money and graded system of payment. “We play for India. So we should be paid,” is their argument.
“We don’t have that kind of money to give at the moment. Such unreasonable demands can’t be met just because smeone holds a gun to your head. We had asked them if money was more important than playing for India and they had understood our point well,” the HI official said. “We will be discussing the matter with them on Monday,” said the official.
The Hindu
Revolt on: Hockey team still won't play
Tushar Dutt
Pune: Twenty-four hours after players and Hockey India officials seemingly struck a peace accord over salary, things were back to square one. Skipper Rajpal Singh confirmed on Sunday that the players will continue to boycott the World Cup camp, after Hockey India showed no interest in fulfilling the players’ demands during a meeting in New Delhi on Saturday. The players boycotted the camp on Sunday.
India’s hockey players have been demanding a fixed salary, something they do not receive, and a performance-related incentive for winning tournaments. “We have decided to continue boycotting the camp till our demands are met,” said Singh. On the sudden change in stand, Rajpal said: “We were offered a minimal annual amount. We wanted to get over with the meeting; so we decided to agree to join the camp. But we were shocked at how little the officials were agreeing to pay us.”
He added: “They were just beating around the bush. We were finally offered peanuts.” A team source confirmed to DNA that the players were offered a lump sum of Rs25,000 per year. “The players were not offered any salary other than this one-time annual payment of Rs25,000. This means the players get a monthly income of a little over Rs2,000 from Hockey India,” the source added.
Head coach Jose Manuel Brasa tried to stay away from the questions related to the players’ salary, but the Spanish coach felt their demands are valid. “I think the whole country is with the players and I believe they (players) are right,” he said.
Talking about the road ahead, Rajpal said: “It is up to Hockey India now. They can meet us. We know they can fire us if they want. But we are sticking together on this salary and incentive issue.” Incidentally, DNA had reported on Sunday that players had agreed to join the camp following the meeting under duress from their employers.
Story so far…
November 23: Hockey team forwards a letter to HI demanding a regular salary and performance-related incentives
January 5: After getting no response from HI, the players send one more letter setting January 8 as the deadline to receive a reply. They threaten to boycott practice
January 8: After getting no direct communication from HI, the players go on indefinite strike, boycott practice and call a press conference
January 9: Six players including skipper Rajpal Singh fly down to Delhi for a promotional shoot for the World Cup, meet HI officials. After a four-hour long meeting, players and officials claim to have resolved the matter
DNA
Hockey players to continue with strike again from today
Saurabh Duggal & B Shrikant
India’s senior hockey players aren’t budging from their “no pay, no play” stand and will not resume practice on Monday. On Sunday afternoon, the 22 players at the preparatory camp in Pune rejected Hockey India’s (HI) proposals.
The proposals were made following a five-hour meeting with players’ representatives in New Delhi on Saturday. HI officials said the players’ stand amounts to “blackmail” but has offered to send a representative to Pune on Monday to discuss the issue.
“We are not happy with whatever Hockey India officials offered during yesterday’s meeting and, therefore, have decided not to practice on Monday. Our protest will continue till they agree to our demands,” India striker Prabhjot Singh told Hindustan Times over phone from Pune.
Prabhjot, skipper Rajpal Singh, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Halappa, Tushar Khandker and Sardara Singh met HI president A.K. Mattoo and other officials on Saturday.
HI, it was learnt, offered Rs 25,000 to each player as one-time compensation and leave the issue of salary and incentives to the committee that takes over after elections. The players rejected that as too less.
“We want more. Also, it is high time players get some concrete assurance over contracts and match fee. We have given so much to the country and will continue to do our best in future too and this is the least we can expect from the federation,” said Prabhjot.
“We are fighting for our rights and will not budge from our demands. We are merely asking for our incentives for the tournaments we won in 2009,” he said.
The players also want to have a word with representatives of the team’s sponsor, the Sahara group.
“We have told HI to arrange a meeting with the Sahara Group and asked the president (Mattoo) to come to Pune or select any other venue to meet the entire squad,” said another player on condition of anonymity since they have selected Rajpal and Prabhjot as spokespersons.
The players are also ready to face HI backlash. “They can take any action. At worst, they will throw us out of the team but at least future generations will be secure,” said the player who was part of the group that went to Delhi.
Hindustan Times
Indian hockey players to go on strike again
NEW DELHI: The truce hastily thrashed out on Saturday night by the Hockey India officials didn't last even a full day with the disgruntled players deciding to go on strike again from Monday demanding dues and incentives.
"We are not going back to the camp anymore unless our demands are met," Indian captain Rajpal Singh said from Pune.
Hockey India reacted sharply to players' decision with treasurer Narinder Batra accusing them of blackmailing the Federation and holding the nation to ransom.
"It's really shocking. They agreed to our offer yesterday and now they are back on strike. They can't hold a nation to ransom," he said.
Asked why they decided to go on strike again after six players, including the Indian captain himself, met the HI officials last night and agreed to rejoin the camp, Rajpal said other players felt the amount offered by HI was peanuts.
"It was a marathon meeting that went on and on. At one time, we wanted to end it somehow and return. We returned and conveyed to our team members what HI offered us. But they felt it was too insignificant an amount and there was no question of ending the strike," Rajpal said, adding HI had offered Rs 25,000 for each player.
"We have conveyed our decision to the coaching staff and by now, they must have relayed it to HI. HI has to come up with a better offer if they want us back in the camp," he said.
Batra said HI officials will travel to Pune on Monday to sort out the issue.
"I cannot tell you who but HI officials would reach Pune tomorrow to talk to the players. We have as many as six meetings lined up in Delhi tomorrow, including meetings with International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice president Antonio von Ondarza and the Sports Ministry but somebody will go to Pune tomorrow," Batra said.
Rajpal, meanwhile, assured that the players would keep themselves mentally and physically fit for the World Cup which begins next month in the capital.
"We ask people not to worry about our fitness -- physical or mental. We would rejoin the camp as soon as our demands are met," Rajpal said.
Senior forward Prabhjot Singh also felt the money offered by HI was too meagre.
"We put our proposals in front of Hockey India and they responded with their proposals. We discussed it among ourselves and we think what they have offered us is very little. So we have decided to boycott the camp again and until our demands are met, we would not practise," said the striker.
"We are merely asking for our incentives for the tournaments we have won in 2009. I think it is our right. We should be paid what we demand. We have won and we deserve incentives. The team is united on this matter and we are prepared for the World Cup too," Prabhjot said.
Batra, meanwhile, was furious with the players, whom he accused of blackmailing.
"Yesterday, we had such a long meeting with them where everything was discussed and a solution was reached. Now they come out saying they are going on strike again. This is blackmailing us.
"They are playing for a country and not a club. They cannot hold an entire nation to a ransom like this," he fumed.
Batra claimed HI listened to every grievances of the players and offered a solution too.
"They talked about insurance cover, graded systems and even the alleged poor quality of food they had at the Pune camp. We told them what we can immediately do. We even agreed to compensate for the poor food, arrange a meeting with the sponsor as they demanded and HI president (AK Mattoo) went to the extent of promising them Rs 1 crore each if they win the World Cup. We said we would get the money anyhow for them.
"Now suddenly they did a u-turn and say it's not acceptable. And all this talks about other playing rejecting our offer today is rubbish. The six players, during yesterday's meeting, took umpteen breaks to call their teammates in Pune and keep them updated. It's a blatant lie on their part to say that their teammates rejected the offer today after they were told about it," Batra said.
Senior India player as the person who will deal with the Hockey India and place their demands for dues and incentives to the authority.
Prabhjot, one of the six senior members of the national team who were up against the authority protesting against the non-payment of their dues, was given with the responsibilities to talk to Hockey India and also deal with the media after the players met this evening, sources said.
Assistant coach of the team Harendra Singh, who was also present at the meeting, drew flak from the team members for taking Hockey India's side, sources said.
"Why should we bother when the media, film stars and also former Olympians are supporting our cause? Now we have solid support from within and from outside," the players said during the meeting.
According to the sources, the players vowed to fight till the last and said, "We are prepared to lose our jobs, then the country will rise to support us. We will not give away our rights in a democratic country."
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and former Olympian Dhanraj Pillay were the among who backed the revolting players.
The Times of India
Players continue revolt amid ‘false promises’
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi: All the talk between Hockey India and the six senior players over the non-payment of sponsorship money came to nought on Sunday when the 22-member squad continued to boycott training at the Balewadi Complex in Pune.
Miffed over Hockey India's "false promises and overlooking of the players' grievances", the players said they will stick to their stand of "no pay, no practice".
On Saturday, skipper Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Sandeep Singh, Tushar Khandker, Arjun Halappa and Sardara Singh had held closed door meetings with Hockey India president A.K. Mattoo at a city hotel here. The national body managed to convince those present saying it was in debt, and would need atleast 20 days to sort out the payment issue. All seemed hunky dory with skipper Rajpal even telling the media that the team would resume training from Sunday.
Things took a turn for the worse though when the players reached Pune and discussed matters with their teammates, who felt that "Hockey India had made a mockery of their demands by adopting a very convenient stance."
Team sources suggest that only two of the six players present in Saturday's meeting gave in to Hockey India's pressure tactics even as the rest stuck to their demands.
Said a senior player from Pune, "It is a fight for our rights. Hockey India says that it does not have funds, but we are not asking for astronomical amounts. A regular payment of Rs 25,000 per month is nothing after Sahara has paid it in crores."
The players have now demanded a direct meeting with team sponsors Sahara India to resolve the matter.
Sahara India paid the players a monthly salary of Rs 25,000 in 2004 only. In subsequent years, the players have been paid on a tournament-to-tournament basis (courtesy funds provided by the government), with almost no financial inputs from the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation or the current administrators.
It is now an open secret that most fringe players prefer to play for their companies than train in the national camp, a move that has hampered Indian hockey since long.
"Playing for India is our pride, and all of us have spent many years without proper monetary gains, diet or even staying conditions. But it is high time that the authorities look into the matter. Graded systems and incentives for performances are our two demands," said striker Arjun Halappa, a sentiment echoed by the rest.
The players' tough stance has put Hockey India into further trouble, which rushed Maharashtra Hockey Association secretary Ekram Khan to help sort out the issue. Khan held a late night meeting with the players, but to no avail.
"Yesterday, we had such a meeting with them where everything was discussed and a solution was reached. Now they come out saying they are going on strike again. This is blackmail," said treasurer Narinder Batra, who was furious with the boys. Rajpal, when contacted, said, "We are not going back to the camp unless our demands are met. It was a marathon meeting that went on and on. We returned and conveyed to our team members what HI had offered us. But they felt it was too insignificant an amount and there was no question of ending the strike."
National coach Harendra Singh refused to take sides, saying all he wanted was the players to resume training as soon as possible.
FIH observer to attend HI meeting tomorrow
Meanwhile, FIH vice president Antonio von Ondarza will be present in his observer's capacity as Hockey India goes into a huddle on Monday to sort out its affiliation mess and take stock of the government guidelines before finalising the election date.
HI elections were slated for January 29 but it got deferred after the interim national body failed to issue a 21-day notice, necessary to be given before the poll date as per its constitution, due to the pending affiliation matters.
The Asian Age
Coach Brasa wants urgent intervention to end impasse
Vijay Lokapally
NEW DELHI: Chief hockey coach Jose Brasa wants urgent intervention from higher-placed officials if Hockey India (HI) was not in a position to solve the impasse created by the players at the Pune camp, seeking payment of their “dues”.
“I think all of India agrees they should be paid. So, we have to find a solution for the sake of the players and hockey. I don’t think the players have the key to this solution. HI has that key. If HI can’t solve it, then someone higher-placed should intervene and decide quickly. We have to solve this problem quickly,” said Brasa on Sunday.
“I am not from India. I am not the one to decide whether the players should be paid or not? If everybody agrees they should be paid, then they should be paid. The players have been waiting for a few years for this. I think the last time they were paid was in 2004. There have been many problems after that and I think the players have been suffering,” Brasa said on phone from Pune.
Without committing his support for the players, Brasa observed, “I am not in the middle of this negotiation. I was not the negotiator in Delhi. But I know the players have the right to ask for the money if they deserve it. HI did not say you must not ask for money. HI told them they don’t have the money to pay. Which means everyone agrees that the players must be paid.”
Sad lot
The Spaniard then expressed his feelings for the players. “But let me tell you that the players are very sad. They have been crying. This is not a good situation for them. It is a difficult situation for all of us. It is not for me to say if they have chosen the best time to make the protest.”
Brasa agreed the team had to concentrate on its training for the World Cup. “It is important that we train for the World Cup in the best frame of mind. When they came back (from Delhi), they told me they are not going to train unless their demands are met. They had a long meeting with (coach) Harendra (Singh) in Hindi and I was told at the end of it that they will not train. We requested them to train but they said it was not possible until their demands were met. As far as the players are concerned, the position is no different than what it was before they met HI.”
On the future of the camp, Brasa concluded, “I can only say that we want to resume training at the earliest. Resume tomorrow. I am sure HI will make it possible.”
The Hindu
Compromise with players soon: Hockey India
PUNE: Hockey India, on Monday, sought to strike a conciliatory note with its revolting players, saying that the demands put forth by Rajpal Singh and his men were "fair enough" and a compromise would be thrashed out soon.
HI representative Ikram Khan has reached Pune to negotiate with the players boycotting the ongoing World Cup preparatory camp to protest the non-payment of their dues and incentives for their 2009 performances.
HI had last night accused the players of blackmailing the federation and holding the nation to ransom but Khan offered an olive branch to the players on Monday.
"I think there will be a compromise soon. They will listen to us and I am 100 per cent sure that the matter will be sorted out. I am going to meet the players right now," he said.
"I interacted with them yesterday. They are not satisfied with the incentives and the grade system that we are planning and all this will be worked out soon. The players are very clear about what they want and that is fair enough. The only thing is the timing and how they have gone about it," he added.
Khan, however, insisted that boycotting a national camp was not right way to assert demands.
"They should not have boycotted the camp. They should respect their coaches, after all they are very senior players. They should start their practice and the other process will continue," he said.
The Times of India
Suspending players is last resort: Mattoo
NEW DELHI/PUNE: He does not want to crack the whip as of now but Hockey India president AK Mattoo, on Monday, said the option of suspending the revolting players remains open if the payment row is not resolved.
A meeting between the agitating players, who have pulled out of the World Cup preparatory camp, is on in Pune where Ikram Khan has been rushed to talk to the players.
Mattoo is miffed with the players' for not keeping their promise of resuming training after the patch up in New Delhi on Saturday.
"If you ask me it is an option. I can use it today, tomorrow or any other day but I don't want this to happen," Mattoo told reporters when asked if suspending the players is an option for Hockey India.
Earlier, HI representative Ikram Khan reached Pune to negotiate with the players, who are protesting the non-payment of their dues and incentives for their 2009 performances.
HI had last night accused the players of blackmailing the federation and holding the nation to ransom but Khan hoped a compromise would be reached.
"I think there will be a compromise soon. They will listen to us and I am 100 per cent sure that the matter will be sorted out. I am going to meet the players right now," he told media in Pune.
"I interacted with them yesterday. They are not satisfied with the incentives and the grade system that we are planning and all this will be worked out soon. The players are very clear about what they want and that is fair enough. The only thing is the timing and how they have gone about it," Khan added.
The Maharashtra Hockey Association official, however, insisted that boycotting a national camp was not right way to assert demands.
"They should not have boycotted the camp. They should respect their coaches, after all they are very senior players. They should start their practice and the other process will continue," he said.
The Times of India
Pargat: Revolt could have been averted
M.S. Unnikrishnan
New Delhi: Hockey Punjab secretary-general and ex-India captain Pargat Singh said the revolt by the Indian players at the national camp in Pune yesterday could have been averted with some timely action. He said with the World Cup Hockey Championship in Delhi barely two months away, the national campers should not be disturbed in any manner. “The players should not get into a negative mode with the World Cup only a few weeks away”, he said. He said the players’ demand of clearance of their dues amounting to Rs 5 or 10 lakh was nothing much, and the controversy was unnecessary. He said the players had some valid grouse that they were being denied their just dues by Hockey India.
“If they play for their organisations, like Oil India or ONGC, the players get a daily allowance of Rs 1000 per day. They thus stand to lose Rs 30,000 per month when they are not doing duty for their departmental teams”, Pargat explained. He said the players could be suitably compensated if Hockey India talked to their employers and found out a workable solution. “The matter can be sorted out without much difficulty”, Pargat asserted. Pargat, who camped in Delhi for six days, seeking affiliation of Hockey Punjab to Hockey India, has been asked to come to Delhi on Monday for further discussion.
Pargat felt that Indian hockey could regain its lost glory only if the people at the helm thought big, acted big. “We always wanted Punjab to contribute for Indian hockey”, he stated. He said if cricket in India was running smoothly and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) elections were held without much of a controversy, it was due to the presence of powerful people at top. “There are at least five-six Chief Ministers who are closely associated with the BCCI, and hockey can transform itself if some top people, like the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka and Munjal of Hero Honda, are involved in the running of the game”, Pargat noted.
He said the creation of a wonderufl hockey facility at the Burlton Park in Jalandhar, which will have 26 air conditioned rooms with clean bath rooms and other facilities befitting an international stadium, was due to the “involvement of top people in the construction of the stadium.”
He said the tragedy of Indian hockey was that the “level of thinking” was very low. “If you think high, you can achieve high goals”, Pargat noted. He said anybody who wanted to promote hockey should be welcomed into the hockey fold. “There should not be any hard and fast rule in the involvement of people who have the good of Indian hockey in their hearts” Pargat opined.
“In any case, how many people you can keep out”, he wondered. Pargat said he met Hockey India officials Mattoo, Bhanot and Batra for the affiliation of Hockey Punjab into HI, but his week-long stay did not produce the desired results though he was hopeful that things would fall into place in his next visit to Delhi on January 11.
The Tribune
I also tried to revolt: Dhanraj Pillay
MUMBAI: Terming the revolt by the national hockey players a "right move", former Olympian Dhanraj Pillay, on Sunday, revealed that he had also tried to stand up against the authorities but could not gather enough support.
"Whatever has happened is right. The revolt came late but was a right move. If the hockey administrators can spend lakhs over a foreign coach, why can't the Indian players get their dues cleared?" Pillay said.
"I had tried to revolt against the administrators during my playing days but could not get enough support," he added.
The Indian players on Friday boycotted the ongoing World Cup preparatory camp in Pune for an indefinite period in protest against non-payment of their dues.
The Times of India
Women's hockey team support men's decision
BANGALORE: The men's hockey team at the Pune camp got the much-needed moral support of their women counterparts in their fight for a better deal from Hockey India.
Women hockey star Mamta Kharb was forthright in pledging her emotional backing to the men's team, saying they were 'fighting for the players' rights'.
"We came to know that they stopped training and have been demanding contracts and match fees. This is the right thing to do and the entire women's hockey team will support their act. We hockey players deserve a better deal," she told TOI.
"The men are fighting for us too," Kharb pointed out. "Our parent body is one. We too will benefit if their demands are met. But we will not resort to strike," she added.
The Times of India
Stars find a new cause
The stars have found a new cause to rally behind — prominent personalities are showing solidarity with the country’s hockey team, which boycotted a training camp in Pune over non-payment of sponsorship money and match fees. The players, who are preparing for the World Cup at Pune’s Balewadi Complex, on Thursday, decided to “boycott” the camp until their dues are paid and the issue is resolved.
Actress Gul Panag posted on the microblogging site Twitter, “Sad that our hockey team has to constantly fight for its dues — and not just financial.”
Movie baron Pritish Nandy too is upset with the way the players are being treated. “I feel sad for our hockey players. India has won eight Olympic golds and one World Cup in hockey and we now treat them as beggars,” he said.
SRK, too, posted on Twitter, “(I) feel awful for the Indian hockey team. To play for the country...national sport and have to ask for salary. And we complain we don’t win gold.”
Hindustan Times
Chattisgarh Protests against 'ghost' Association Getting Affiliation from Hockey India
s2h team
Concerned people in Chattisgarh Hockey Associations have raised objection to the manner by which the State Olympic Association has appropriated the hockey bodies.
They claim that Hockey India has wrongly proceeded to grant affiliation to Chattisgarh Hockey Association which actually is a non existent body. An official termed the new body as the 'ghost' association, how correct it is!
Following a vicious pattern that have been followed elsewhere, President of State Olympic Association -- who has been mandated by IOA to recommend the association for affiliation by Hockey India -- has misused his powers in Chattisgarh to declare himself the President of the State Hockey Association.
Officials of the Original State Association bodies which exisited ever since the State was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, justifiably cry foul and even dared to describe the State Olympic association's move as subversion.
"How can they create a new body without involvement of associations for men and women existed for over a decade", fumes Nita Dumre, former international goalkeeper, and also the Secretary of the Chattisgarh Women's Association.
Those in the women association have therefore made a ferverent plea to the FIH demanding its intervention, with an emphasis to audit the entire process of granting affiliation by Hockey India.
"In fact if similar process has been followed by Hockey India elsewhere, as has been done in the case of Chattisgarh, we also suspect the entire process of granting affiliation a complete shame", opined another official.
Officials of Chattisgarh's legal associations also appealed to both Hockey India and Indian Olympic Association to adopt a truly democratic and fair process of affiliation before going for election.
They have made representation to all concerned including Sports Ministry, Government of India, Election Observer and of course the FIH president, seeking remedy in time.
Stick2Hockey.com
FIH observer to attend HI meeting on Monday
NEW DELHI: The FIH vice president Antonio von Ondarza will be present in his observer's capacity as Hockey India goes into a huddle on Monday to sort out its affiliation mess and take stock of the government guidelines before finalising its election date.
HI president AK Mattoo said that the federation has requested Ondarza, also the International Hockey Federation-appointed observer for the polls, to come down to the capital to discuss all pending issues that are delaying the election process.
"The FIH observer will come to Delhi tomorrow. We have requested him to discuss the recent government directives and matters which are creating problems in conducting the elections," Mattoo said.
"We will discuss the affiliation issues as well and come out with a solution by day after tomorrow.
"We will also discuss with Ondarza the minimum principles listed by the government to be followed before the elections," he said.
Mattoo confirmed that the much-awaited January 29 elections has been postponed but assured that it would be conducted well before the World Cup to be held here from February 28-March 13.
"I hope by day after tomorrow, we will come out with the notice for the general body meeting. But I assure you that the elections will not deferred by more than 2-3 days," Matoo said.
"Had it been left to me only, I would have given you a date right now. But there are other agencies which are also involved in the process and we have to go along on all decisions," Mattoo said.
HI elections were slated for January 29 but it got deferred after the interim national body failed to issue a 21-day notice, necessary to be given before the poll date as per its constitution, due to the pending affiliation matters.
To further compound their problems, the Sports Ministry had recently sent a letter to the FIH as well as Hockey India, spelling out the critical minimum principles, which includes the affiliations issues, appointment of an independent returning officer among others, to be in place before the polls.
Government-appointed HI election observer SK Mendiratta also said that a clearer picture for the poll date would emerge only after the federation's meeting tomorrow.
"The January 29 deadline is now irrelevant. They (HI officials) are having an internal meeting tomorrow to finalise everything, most importantly the affiliation issues of Delhi, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh," Mendiratta said.
"Let us see what happens tomorrow. They told me that they will come out with a solution tomorrow. Once they inform me about the developments of tomorrow's meeting, then only I can come to any conclusion," he added.
The Times of India
AI, Central Rly. make the grade
MUMBAI: Air India defeated South-Central Railway (SCR) 6-2 and Central Railway beat Bhopal XI 17-2 as the Group B league ended in the 9th All India Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup hockey tournament on Sunday. Central qualified for the semifinal as the second team behind AI, pipping SCR on goal difference.
Semifinal line-up: ONGC vs Central Rly, AI vs IOC.
The results: AI 6 (Mathais Minz (2), Sameer Dad (2), Ajmer Singh and M.K.Mudappa) bt SCR 2 (Mohd Aleem, Irshad Mirza).
Central 17 (Amit Singh (5), Ajaz Qureshi (4), Shashi Topno (3), Shamsher Khan (2), Nilesh Mane, Navneet Swarnakar, Deepak Lakra) bt Bhopal XI 2 (Sachin Bhatnakar, Imran Yusuf).
The Hindu
ICF still in the hunt
Chennai: Integral Coach Factory kept its title hopes alive on the penultimate day of the IOB-CHA Super Six hockey league, Sunday’s results ensuring a three-way final-day battle.
ICF needed to beat Indian Bank, and then hope that Indian Overseas Bank hands Southern Railway ‘A’ its first defeat of the campaign; both results materialised.
ICF went ahead in the 46th minute thanks to a howler from Indian Bank keeper Isaac Jebaraj, whose failure to intercept a cross left Vinoth Kumar an open goal to stroke into.
Shyam nets two
It became 2-0 ten minutes later, when Shyam Kumar knocked home a cross from Sarath Babu, who wriggled into the ‘D’ after a one-two with Karthick on the left wing.
Shyam scored again in the 66th minute before penalty-corner specialist Nishanth drag-flicked a consolation goal for Indian Bank in the final minute.
Meanwhile, IOB beat Southern Railway 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Felix and Albert John.
Tamil Nadu Police and Southern Railway, tied on nine points each, meet on Monday in the final match of the league. Whichever side wins will take the championship. A draw will leave the two teams tied with ICF on 10 points, with ICF’s superior goal difference (ICF 4, Police 3, Railway 2) handing it the title.
The Hindu
Boys keen to avoid controversies: hockey coach
By Shazia Hasan
KARACHI: Pakistan hockey team Coach Shahid Ali Khan has said that the boys will be focusing completely on their training and performance instead of paying any heed to silly controversies.
Speaking to Dawn from Sialkot after wrapping up the third day’s training camp at the Sialkot Hockey Stadium, the former Olympian goalkeeper said: “We are all looking forward to playing the two Tests with the Netherlands in Doha. They will be very important matches for us as they’ll help us pinpoint our weaknesses and strong points before the World Cup in India.”
The team will be playing two Tests with the Netherlands team in Doha, Qatar, the neutral venue selected by both sides for the purpose on Jan 20 and 21. The Hockey World Cup in New Delhi, India, will be played from Feb 28 to March 13.
“Besides working on their fitness, we are trying to cover all the tactical things during this camp with an emphasis on short corners. The boys, too, are working in earnest.
“They need plenty of match practice also as they would be getting to play different level matches at the World Cup, which is why we will be splitting them and making them play a lot of matches among themselves between the morning and evening sessions. As we are also pressed for time, the regular training, too, will continue along with the match practice,” he explained.
About the recent controversy and its effect on their emotional health ahead of an important series and the mega event, the coach said: “Well, it isn’t good for them or us.”
He added: “Though I carry much respect for the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports, I really want to say that we have been treated rather unfairly. I say punish us if you are unhappy with our performance or if we do something wrong on the field like getting involved in a brawl with an umpire or another player. But not on a silly thing like having our pictures taken with our liaison officer.”
The coach was reacting to the committee’s session a day earlier where it under Jamshed Dasti’s chairmanship recommended fines of Rs100,000 for experienced striker Rehan Butt along with Rs50,000 each for both him and the team Manager Asif Bajwa for getting involved in unethical activities during the recent Champions Challenge Cup Tournament in Argentina.
Dawn
Custodians of public morality
* The standing committee should be more concerned about well being of Pakistan sports and national athletes rather than pronouncing judgements on moral behaviour or categorising and cataloguing it as this and that. Mr Dasti and his committee members have not covered themselves in glory by this imprudent and irresponsible ‘verdict’. Prime Minsiter Yousuf Raza Gillani should sack Mr Dasti immediately from this sensitive post so that the nation gets rid of these self-styled guardians of public morality
By Muhammad Ali
Strange things happen in this land of the pure. People, with vested interests, can go to any extent whether they are politicians or belong to any other segment of the society. They involve themselves in unnecessary controversies and such despicable acts that break all records of decency and are very damaging. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports last week not only spoiled the image of Pakistan but also hit hard the national sport by recommending fines on Pakistan hockey star Rehan Butt, national coach Shahid Ali Khan and Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) general secretary Mohammad Asif Bawja for ‘unethical behavour’. It was distressing, shocking and in bad taste.
The standing committee, whose prime role is to facilitate and improve sports, has now assumed the role of the custodians of public morality. Mr Jamshed Dasti, the chairman of the standing committee, has gone too far in his tirade against Pakistan hockey. The issue started after pictures of Pakistan players and officials ‘hugging a woman and apparently drinking alcohol’ during the Champions Challenge Tournament in Argentina last month were run by a Pakistani television channel and posted on the Internet.
It was nothing serious and no big issue. The woman in the photographs was the tournament liaison officer. And the woman had put the pictures on her Face book. The drinks in their glasses could have been juices or non-alcoholic. But the matter was blown out of proportion. Since when has Mr Dasti become a custodian of public morality beyond the sphere of the law and constitution? Are we about to see a time when the police would see a couple strolling in the park and demand to see their marriage certificates or notice of clutch of youngsters in restaurants and demand to smell their breath? Or the intelligence would be put behind the national athletes, whenever they are on away tours, to keep a watchful eye on their ‘after-match activities’?
Heavens would not have fallen if this trivial issue had been ignored and not given that much importance. What kind of image building of Pakistan this committee is doing? It does not matter in the least which way this country is going – some wags say nowhere. One of the many banes of General Ziaul Haq’s rule was the conflation of sin and crime. Now, Mr Dasti has risen to put down national athletes and officials from attending dinners and parties. What right did Mr Dasti and his committee had to fine and humiliate former hockey Olympians. It was really pathetic.
Mr Dasti’s rant against Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt was really ‘un-parliamentary and uncalled for. Everyone in the country knows that Pakistan cricket has been ruined and destroyed by Ijaz and company and 76-year-old Ijaz is unsuited for the coveted job. But to wish for Ijaz’s ‘death’, to ‘put him in jail’ and to ‘abuse’ him publicly amazes one that a member of the National Assembly, having a certain pedestal and status, could stoop so low. Mr Dasti has no right to insult anyone so arrogantly!
It seems that not content with the damage that he did to Pakistan sports in general and cricket in particular with that unwarranted statement of ‘match-fixing’ and the Pakistan cricket team ‘deliberately’ losing in the ICC Champions Trophy, Mr Dasti wants to inflict more damage on the existing sports structure by passing stupid judgements like the one against former hockey Olympians. Any disciplinary action, if there is any violation, in the sports area should logically be taken by the national federation itself or the federal sports ministry and not by the standing committee.
What about other sports of the country? Do Mr Dasti and his committee members know that all sports have gone to the dogs. Does Mr Dasti know what is happening in the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA)? Where all funds of the Pakistan Sports Trust (PST) have gone? What is happening in the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) and where Pakistan stands in the world rankings? What is happening in athletics or for that matter in swimming? What ails Pakistan football? Is there any accountability in Pakistan sports? How many foreign trips officials of the national sports federations have taken and how many future joyrides they are planning? Has Mr Dasti initiated any such action against the heads of these federations? No. Mr Dasti is only interested in hockey and cricket, because these sports provide him with an opportunity to steal the limelight.
The standing committee should be more concerned about well being of Pakistan sports and national athletes rather than pronouncing judgements on moral behaviour or categorising and cataloguing it as this and that. Mr Dasti and his committee members have not covered themselves in glory by this imprudent and irresponsible ‘verdict’. Prime Minsiter Yousuf Raza Gillani should sack Mr Dasti immediately from this sensitive post so that the nation gets rid of these self-styled guardians of public morality.
The Daily Times