There is a lot to compare Pakistan politics and Indian Hockey.
There, first an Army General throws out a powerful President and then suspends the Parliament to rule the country in a dictatorial manner. Then, some people gather to throw him out of power, in which eventually they succeed. This keeps going on and on... No one cares about the people, democracy or how the nation stands in the World.
And that is where it draws huge similarities with Indian Hockey. Pakistan is far behind rest of the World economically, politically and all other '..ally' and India is far behind everyone in Field Hockey.
One sacks second, second goes to court. Now, neither 1 nor 2 can work. 2's administration was autocratic. 1's is even pathetic. There are too many 1's in the fray. The story goes on and on.... None of them are really concerned about Hockey, country or the sport as such.
Even those who held the stick once for the country are still stuck with desires of more glory not to the game but to themselves. Apart from the adhoc committee members, one such biggest culprit is Sri. Dhanraj Pillay!
I sometimes feel that media doesn't speak about him but there is a time when we all have to accept that fact that a magician with stick may not be the greatest person in formal dress in a board room. It's high time we understand who is suited for what position.
The first thing that you expect from a player turned selector is he will not repeat the things that he kept crying for years when he was a player. But the biggest dissappointment in the adhoc committee is Dhanraj Pillay. Drop Tirkey, Thakur and Halappa and he may be getting some sadistic pleasure to see their 'come back promise' article in the newspaper.
1 person who could think beyond all such stalwarts is Viren Rasquinha. Peacefully gave up National level Hockey when politics beat his game, and is pursuing an MBA in one of the reputed institutes in Hyderabad. I wonder will he ever think of turning a Sports Adminstrator. His matured approach, technical brilliance clubbed with his managerial skills can create wonders in the admin section of the Bleeding sport.
Daily when I browse all the newspapers, I see Goa, Nagpur, Srinagar, Mumbai, Imphal, Shillong, Mysore, Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam, Trichi hosting Hockey Tournament in their capacity. Howeverwhen you sum up how much media coverage junk political developments get with regards to Hockey, it pains. Take a shot at this:
Tamil Nadu Hockey Association: 2 associations fighting as who is genuine.
Super Division League in Karnataka: Called off from Coorg because of red-tapism. Being hosted in SAI, Kengeri, Bangalore. Believe me, there is not even a bench there for a spectator.
Kaushik goes back to IWHF and Harender Singh may be the new coach: Kaushik saheb, in all his years with Haryana Sports Dept. didn't know about the procedures and believed the adhoc committee ppl. Made a fool of himself.
Gill calls IOA a fake organization: Oh, dear o dear! It's as fake as your IHF was. You both specialize in mastering the democratic system to remain in power for years uncountable.
Tripartite contest for who will be in power: Gill, is on one side. Second, is the Sahara tycoon. Third, is Kalmadi and company.
These news rule Hockey's media reputation. Come to me and ask me for a penny in the name of Hockey. Guess what will I give?
Then they cry that media is Cricket obsessed and corporates don't sponser anyone but Cricket. I feel they deserve what they are getting.Is anyone observing: Football people have taken massive 'professional' steps. Indian Football is slowly on it's way to make a mark in World Football. Last night NDTV was interviewing Bhutia and Chhetri. It's a perfect symbolic gesture that the sport is catching up.
Our country is craving for an alternate team Sport and Football ppl are progressing in leaps and bounds. They have a foriegn coach as well.Football is ready to cash upon what Hockey has more or less lost and is desperately trying to loose the rest.
Sadly, time and again, I am reminded of what Charlesworth said when he left ...
3 comments:
I guess whoever has written this article has a tunnel vision and hasnt sucked any other dick other than viren's. Please, give us a break with ur repeated rhetoric about virens IQ and his brilliant managerial skills. We all know how much of a fence sitter he is and the dirt politics he played. He is a snitch and a snitch to the media..leaks inside info through emails , phone calls to news papers..in exchange for exaggerated performance report card. He know he is never gauranteed a position in the team based on his hockey skills...even he knows that...ask him..hence he needs the media to just prop him that extra mile.. well i should i should say u guys have done a good job so far..pity u coulnt help when he got kicked out from the Asian Games!!
before u talk something..take into account 2 sides of the coin..be a true journalist..not a wanker...
Well, during 1950s and 1960s, the golden era of Indian hockey there were differences among officials and even players but rarely they washed the dirty linen in the public. Yes often Jimmy Nagarwala had to swallow bitter words of players since he was quite stern on the field as a refree.Yet he remained a jolly good old fellow. So was VV Naidu in Bangalore. there were instances like the Indian hockey team having two captains at the 1968 Mexico Olympiad. One wished that the ego problems would be buried once and for all.
Alas, it has gone from bad to worse, rather worst. Of course, certain bullying adminstrators like the MAM and Gill needed a good dose. Aslam Sher Khan did it for MAM and Dhanraj Pillay rightly taunted GIll.
As for the game, it is so sad that renowned tournaments like the Bombay Gold Cup, Aga Khan Cup, MUC, Murugappa, Lakshmi Gold Cup, Obaidullah Cup of Bhopal and the Beighton Cup have lost the charm of the past but for the plethora of sponsors more interested in having their names in the forefront than the game. Where are those clubs such as the Lusitanians of Bombay, the Adivasis of Calcutta? Even the formidable teams from the Services such as MEG, MLI and SRC which boasted of a line-up that could match an international side are no more heard.
Indeed, hockey has become a rapid game as per the dictums of the western nations as a result the artistry of yore is rarely seen these days. So much so, I recall watching the State level league matches at the BRV and Sullivan Police Grounds in Bangalore during the 69s. It was sheer artistry of the players that delighted the spectators.
I wonder if one can ever again see such skills which VJ Peter, Udham Singh, Antic, Perumal, Francis, Harbinder, Bandu Patil, Inam-ur Rehman, Jadhav,Jaman Lal Sharma's tapping, Mohinder Lal's scoop, penalty strokes of Prithipal and Dharam. Leave alone these names since there were international stalwarts. But at the local and national level, equally there were greats in the likes of Murthy, Manuel, Govindraj, Thangraj, Austin D'Cruz, Mcbride, Unnikrishnan, Ghumman of Air Force and host of Coorgis among others.
People may laugh at these words of mine and brand me as an armchair critic. But it is a fact.
Suresh Panje
News Editor ANI TV
New Delhi 110 022
Tel: 09210239623
sureshpanje@gmail.com
Mr Suresh,
Those were the days of natural grass, weren't they (please correct me if I am wrong)? I wonder how would they play in Astro. Lets not look in the past.
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