Hooky with Hockey

The powers that be (read Suresh Kalmadi), decided a new body was in order to set right the mess in Indian hockey, as a result of which Hockey India was formed in place of the Indian Hockey Federation. Hockey administration has become a completely rudderless ship caught in a major storm in the high seas. Caught in the churning and frothing political waters, the sport has taken a complete back seat and the administrators are apparently making hay while the players are frothing at the complete disregard by the powers that be for their welfare.

The players have gone on strike for the past few days as the promised match fees and piffling daily allowance has not been paid to the players for more than a year. Hockey India has a sponsorship deal for the national hockey team (men and women) which works out to Rs. 3.03 crores annually. If you account for the kit, training etc, I do not think the cost will go beyond Rs. 75 lacs a year for 50 players. This leaves a balance of Rs. 2.25 crores to be utilized for motivating the players by giving cash incentives to the team for international performance. A sum of Rs. 50000 per player per game should be good enough for the team to perform without thinking about monetary issues. Cash rewards can be given for winning major tournaments, but if this happens who will pay for the junkets of the administrators – who in many cases exceed the number of players – all on a free fully paid overseas junket.

It is so sad that the National team has to resort to threats and blackmail for something as routine as match fees which are not paid but only promised. Compare this with our cricketers and the cricket board which rakes in money by the oodles – though only ten countries in the world play the game. Hockey with a major international following, the national game to boot, is in such a sorry mess that it makes you puke. The administration of the game should be left to sports professionals who understand the game rather than thick skinned bureaucrats and politicians as realistically depicted by Shah Rukh Khan in his movie “Chak de India”!

Looks like our World Cup woes will continue with the administration of the game a complete disaster. The national team not practicing because of money – sad, very sad – looks like our national game is only going to disrepute and is slowly becoming a national shame as far as sports is concerned. Hopefully, something good will come of all this – the administration may be given to people who understand the game so that politicians with their eyes on free junkets are kept away from ruining the game more than they already have. Enough of playing hooky with hockey in India, I say!!