Excerpts from the newspapers these days pertaining to Indian Hockey and Hero Honda World Cup 2010:
I was not let in the stadium.
I did not get some tickets that I wanted. (Whole world can get it online, though)
I fear that this World Cup will be worst one in this history.
I want everything to go fine but certain Government officials are taking time to materialize trivial things.
Does any of these happenings justify that you hit the news headlines the next day?
My question to the same people who blame others for the wrong doing is: How are you helping the very cause for which you are claim you feel bad about?
The problem with blame game is: The outside public totally shuts off from the whole arena itself. I, as a Hockey fan, don't care that in today's goof up who was right and who was wrong.
I just say, "Oh, just forget it!"
Few laugh at them as well.
Only Hockey fraternity reads these comments and fans just wonder when, at all, this will come to and end.
But our (so called) stalwarts fail to understand this.
Will the person who was denied entry to the stadium or the one didn't get tickets or the one who says that many are bringing disrepute to the game will stand up and say that they will not do this to others?
The very basic analysis of the situation tells me, they will!
I don't care who runs Hockey in this country yesterday or today or who stands a better chance to run it tomorrow but I am sure of one thing:
The people who claim that they are being ignored at various junctures are the ones who will do the same to others some day. These are people who are actually bringing disrepute to the very game that gave them an exquisite life.
Once I was told by a taxi driver, "We should not cheat tourists. It's because of their visit to this small place that we earn our living."
It's because of the game Hockey, former players are what they are today.
He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Golden Chance to become Indian Hockey hero!
Indian Hockey faces a captaincy issue now.
Coach Jose Brasa says that he has nominated Prabhjot Singh for captaincy.
Hockey India officials claim that coach doesn't have a say in this matter and the captain, according to them, is Rajpal Singh.
Now, if you ask me, here are questions that shouldn't be thought about.
1) Is Brasa eligible to nominate the captain or not?
2) Has Hockey India taken a good decision or a decision with vested interests?
The people in debate are Rajpal Singh and Prabhjot Singh.
They are amongst the senior most players of the team. How they act at this time is what will be crucial in the coming days of the World Cup.
This time it's not the fight with the outside corrupt and incompetent officials. The country supported the previous fight because it was for a genuine cause and it was the betterment of the game.
This fight although, superfically, looks as if it's a fight between HI officials and Jose Brasa. But if 2 individuals take the baton in their hands and decide that they themselves can sort out the matter along with their team-mates, then it's only between 2 individuals - individuals who are amongst the best Hockey players in the country, right now.
The team will not do well without either of them. So, can't we have something like this - Either Rajpal or Prabhjot back out in the favour of other? Just for the sake of the team?
For it doesn't matter who will have the last word. It does matter what rank did the team have in the World Cup.
For it doesn't matter whether Brasa or Batra will win. It does matter that neither Prabhjot nor Rajpal should loose the spirit with which they enter the field everytime.
The one who backs-out does loose the captaincy but he surely will set an example for the generations to come - an example where the team spirit is more important than just a ceremonial post.
And that is where lies the golden chance to become Indian Hockey hero - a hero, with ultimate sportsmanship, who decided to hand over the leadership of the team to fellow team mate, at the World Cup, only and only for the sake of betterment of his team!
Coach Jose Brasa says that he has nominated Prabhjot Singh for captaincy.
Hockey India officials claim that coach doesn't have a say in this matter and the captain, according to them, is Rajpal Singh.
Now, if you ask me, here are questions that shouldn't be thought about.
1) Is Brasa eligible to nominate the captain or not?
2) Has Hockey India taken a good decision or a decision with vested interests?
The people in debate are Rajpal Singh and Prabhjot Singh.
They are amongst the senior most players of the team. How they act at this time is what will be crucial in the coming days of the World Cup.
This time it's not the fight with the outside corrupt and incompetent officials. The country supported the previous fight because it was for a genuine cause and it was the betterment of the game.
This fight although, superfically, looks as if it's a fight between HI officials and Jose Brasa. But if 2 individuals take the baton in their hands and decide that they themselves can sort out the matter along with their team-mates, then it's only between 2 individuals - individuals who are amongst the best Hockey players in the country, right now.
The team will not do well without either of them. So, can't we have something like this - Either Rajpal or Prabhjot back out in the favour of other? Just for the sake of the team?
For it doesn't matter who will have the last word. It does matter what rank did the team have in the World Cup.
For it doesn't matter whether Brasa or Batra will win. It does matter that neither Prabhjot nor Rajpal should loose the spirit with which they enter the field everytime.
The one who backs-out does loose the captaincy but he surely will set an example for the generations to come - an example where the team spirit is more important than just a ceremonial post.
And that is where lies the golden chance to become Indian Hockey hero - a hero, with ultimate sportsmanship, who decided to hand over the leadership of the team to fellow team mate, at the World Cup, only and only for the sake of betterment of his team!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hockey India officials goof up now
You keep threatening extreme things to the other party, don't negotiate at all and nothing gets resolved.
Once the Indian Hockey Players sat on strike, it was a blunder from the players not to negotiate properly when they were in Delhi. They gave a statement that all is settled and made a U-turn within 24 hours of their decision.
However, the further complexity has been added by the Hockey India officials by threatening the players to be asked to leave and field another team in the Hero Honda World Cup 2010 scheduled to start on 28th Feb '09.
Hockey India Officials have made the same mistake which the players did: going extremes. This is not 1998 when Indian Hockey Federation dropped 6 players immediately after 1998 Asiad Gold Medal victory and still the Federation had it's way.
The media rules now. Whether they are right or not, but media rules. The internal dispute which could have been based on negotiation and continuous 2-way talk has become a contentious issue.
The officials could have dealt with the players much better.
They could have settled the immediate problem of ending the strike first. The players can still practise and talks can go on with Hockey India officials in Pune.
Although players' demands are genuine, Hockey India's stand also doesn't seem to be wrong. They say that the officially elected body will committ the salaries and can give only give limited money to the players.
However, it looks like there lacks a will from HI to solve the issue amicably.
It seems the officials are desperate and haven't even made one decent prolonged attempt to straighten out things with the players. Their mantra has been: Take whatever we give you or leave the arena.
It doesn't work out that way. The news has made to the front page of the leading dailies. Everyone has come in support of players. The players have got an excellent platform to venom their grievences in front of the whole nation. With so much money being promised by so many people from the country and the World, it seems like it's easy to get money from people but the officials.
HI officials are giving the same trash that offficials used to give decades back, "Play for the nation and forget money."
Unfortunately, it's doesn't work in 2010. Nearly the whole nation empathizes with the players when it comes to incompetent adminstration which has vested interests.
By such an extreme stand HI has ensured that they will lick where they spit.
I just wish that the camp starts soon because Brasa and his coaching team are waiting on the turf for the players to put up a good show in the World Cup.
Each day lost is costly to this nation, to the players and to the fans of Indian Hockey....
Once the Indian Hockey Players sat on strike, it was a blunder from the players not to negotiate properly when they were in Delhi. They gave a statement that all is settled and made a U-turn within 24 hours of their decision.
However, the further complexity has been added by the Hockey India officials by threatening the players to be asked to leave and field another team in the Hero Honda World Cup 2010 scheduled to start on 28th Feb '09.
Hockey India Officials have made the same mistake which the players did: going extremes. This is not 1998 when Indian Hockey Federation dropped 6 players immediately after 1998 Asiad Gold Medal victory and still the Federation had it's way.
The media rules now. Whether they are right or not, but media rules. The internal dispute which could have been based on negotiation and continuous 2-way talk has become a contentious issue.
The officials could have dealt with the players much better.
They could have settled the immediate problem of ending the strike first. The players can still practise and talks can go on with Hockey India officials in Pune.
Although players' demands are genuine, Hockey India's stand also doesn't seem to be wrong. They say that the officially elected body will committ the salaries and can give only give limited money to the players.
However, it looks like there lacks a will from HI to solve the issue amicably.
It seems the officials are desperate and haven't even made one decent prolonged attempt to straighten out things with the players. Their mantra has been: Take whatever we give you or leave the arena.
It doesn't work out that way. The news has made to the front page of the leading dailies. Everyone has come in support of players. The players have got an excellent platform to venom their grievences in front of the whole nation. With so much money being promised by so many people from the country and the World, it seems like it's easy to get money from people but the officials.
HI officials are giving the same trash that offficials used to give decades back, "Play for the nation and forget money."
Unfortunately, it's doesn't work in 2010. Nearly the whole nation empathizes with the players when it comes to incompetent adminstration which has vested interests.
By such an extreme stand HI has ensured that they will lick where they spit.
I just wish that the camp starts soon because Brasa and his coaching team are waiting on the turf for the players to put up a good show in the World Cup.
Each day lost is costly to this nation, to the players and to the fans of Indian Hockey....
Monday, January 11, 2010
Indian Hockey Players stop play and sit on a strike...
Indian Hockey Players have gone on a strike.
Here are the various thoughts going around:
How the general public sees it?
Although a few would empathize with the condition of the players but mostly people believe that players taking the country to ransom by stopping the ongoing camp, brings disrepute to the very game which they play. So, until and unless you have a bunch of ruthless adminstrators, such an action doesn't find approval from many in general public.
I agree, the demands must be genuine and the administrators may be truly thick-skinned but it can be debated what methodology players could have adopted to convey their point.
A bunch of players, who would turn out not to be the correct representatives of the whole lot, were supposed to be in the Capital for a promotional event.
Precisely a week before this, players give an ultimatum and sit on a strike. A couple of days later, stage is set for negotiation because, as planned, the players are in Delhi.
Whether it is opportunistic or not, is a debatable topic?
The players could have raised this topic earlier but for what reason the topic is escalated only now is beyond comprehension. Somehow I feel relieved that this happened now and not in the last week of February.
So, what are the other ways to convey your point but still don't downgrade the game?
- Sit on a rotational fast everyday to convey your point.
- Come up with creative methods to convey one’s point.
- Practice with a band on their arms that conveys that conveys their point symbolically. (Media will anyway report and the whole world will know their grievances)
- Keep sending letters (and copies of the same to the media) to Hockey India and prepare a fair ground for a strike and the negotiation.
The problem with the whole thing is: Players don't attend the camp, then they go on a meeting with the officials. The officials are perfect on negotiation skills. Players don’t have a dedicated leader and they lack negotiation skills.
To negotiate one must have a strong ground, a tuft negotiator and a dedicated leader in the fore-front.
Guess what happened? The players left Delhi saying that all is solved. Few hours later, made a U-turn. Possibly, they were not having a genuine leader!
Sitting on strike for non-payment of dues for 1 tournament, Champions Challenge, doesn't sound like a very strong point. I am not saying it's an invalid point. But strike is too extreme a step.
Imagine what the officials must be thinking: "Oh, you are a bunch of directionless people and after what you have done, we will give you peanuts. If you don’t settle in that, we know how to get things right."
Now, everyone knows the players are divided! Mind you, administrators also know!
I am fairly sure with such a weak front, officials will have their way, peacefully.
Was strike the only way to sort out this matter, is what I am wondering?
Sadly, this time, I just feel the players could have preserved the pride of the game and taken it forward in a much better manner.
Revolt can be genuine but how you conduct it will dictate its success.
Of how I foresee things, it's just a matter of days the camp will re-start with hardly anything extra than what is already promised.
Sad but true!!
- Why did they take so long to escalate the issue?
- Is there anyone in particular who is instigating this strike?
- Wasn't it poorly orchestrated by the players?
- Although, Brasa feels for the cause but has distanced himself from all this.
- Players were on a promotional shoot for Hero Honda and hence a meeting materialized with Hockey India. Wasn't that opportunistic?
- Gill says the matter can be solved in 15m!
I agree, the demands must be genuine and the administrators may be truly thick-skinned but it can be debated what methodology players could have adopted to convey their point.
A bunch of players, who would turn out not to be the correct representatives of the whole lot, were supposed to be in the Capital for a promotional event.
Precisely a week before this, players give an ultimatum and sit on a strike. A couple of days later, stage is set for negotiation because, as planned, the players are in Delhi.
Whether it is opportunistic or not, is a debatable topic?
The players could have raised this topic earlier but for what reason the topic is escalated only now is beyond comprehension. Somehow I feel relieved that this happened now and not in the last week of February.
So, what are the other ways to convey your point but still don't downgrade the game?
- Sit on a rotational fast everyday to convey your point.
- Come up with creative methods to convey one’s point.
- Practice with a band on their arms that conveys that conveys their point symbolically. (Media will anyway report and the whole world will know their grievances)
- Keep sending letters (and copies of the same to the media) to Hockey India and prepare a fair ground for a strike and the negotiation.
The problem with the whole thing is: Players don't attend the camp, then they go on a meeting with the officials. The officials are perfect on negotiation skills. Players don’t have a dedicated leader and they lack negotiation skills.
To negotiate one must have a strong ground, a tuft negotiator and a dedicated leader in the fore-front.
Guess what happened? The players left Delhi saying that all is solved. Few hours later, made a U-turn. Possibly, they were not having a genuine leader!
Sitting on strike for non-payment of dues for 1 tournament, Champions Challenge, doesn't sound like a very strong point. I am not saying it's an invalid point. But strike is too extreme a step.
Imagine what the officials must be thinking: "Oh, you are a bunch of directionless people and after what you have done, we will give you peanuts. If you don’t settle in that, we know how to get things right."
Now, everyone knows the players are divided! Mind you, administrators also know!
I am fairly sure with such a weak front, officials will have their way, peacefully.
Was strike the only way to sort out this matter, is what I am wondering?
Sadly, this time, I just feel the players could have preserved the pride of the game and taken it forward in a much better manner.
Revolt can be genuine but how you conduct it will dictate its success.
Of how I foresee things, it's just a matter of days the camp will re-start with hardly anything extra than what is already promised.
Sad but true!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
India lose to Pak 3-6 in Champions Challenge in Salta Argentina
Indian went down to Pakistan by 3-6 last night in Champions Challenge 2009 in Salta, Argentina.
The match was broadcast LIVE on Ten Sports. No doubts, it was Pakistan all over the place most of the time.
From the very begining, Pakistan made their intentions clear.
6 defenders and a awesome pass to Rehan Butt in the 2nd minute, Butt found the gate between Adrian's feet. This put India on defensive right away.
Few minutes later, getting a PC, they way Mahadik converted in the 8m, showed a lot of promise from Indians. But in the 1st half, thereafter, it was always Pakistan in control most of the time.
It was a treat watching Rehan Butt 2nd goal from the right of the net. Although he was very well marked and equally covered by Goalkeeper, the way he smacked the ball is nothing but insolence. His 2 goals are exemplary of his mercilessness and arrogance.
On the contrary Indians frontline lacked that confidence and Pakis were never desperate while defending either. There were moments when Indians were charging quickly towards to the Pakistan's D, but Pakistan defense line had their role defined crystal clear.
With a PC conversion by Sohail Abbas, it was 3-1 and Pakistan's shoulders were high as the players went for a lemon break.
The 4th goal scored by Haseem Khan was another one that must have made Pak fans jump from their seats.
Towards the last 10m, the Indian defensive looked tired. This was evident by the way Dhananjay Mahadik conceeded a short corner to Pakistan.
Few minutes later, as the score read 4-1, Prabhjot Singh hit the ball on the defender's foot, earning a short corner for India. The style of his shot outlined the state of Indian team, i.e. desperate. Diwakar Ram didn't make any mistake and the score was 4-2.
At certain moments, it was interesting to see that India was very much in attack and in control of the ball in the striking circle. But what came to Pak's rescue was their flawless man to man marking at this time.
2 defenders, 2 forwards, goalkeeper lying few yards away from the goal post, and 1 defender acting as a goalkeeper and Rehan Butt's brilliance was the scene at the time 5th goal.
Compared to the past, Indians passing was much better and there were no empty slap shot on the top of the D. However, Indians looked defensive and were edgy doing that. Pakistan, certainly, outplayed India as far as energy levels and capacity to cover the whole ground is concerned.
The gaps between Indian defensive line and the linksmen also was huge at times.
The interesting aspect of the the match was the number of Field Goals that Pakistan netted during this match; 4. Whereas, India got all their 3 goals from Penalty Corners.
All in all, Pakistan go into the finals with their heads high and blooming confidence levels. Let's see how they fare against the Black Sticks.
Here's the most interesting aspect of this tournament. 6 teams qualified for the Champions Trophy. These teams happen to be World's top 6 teams.
Champions Challenge has 8 lower ranked teams. Here's how they rank.
7th Pakistan
8th New Zealand
9th Belgium
10th Argentina
11th Canada
12th India
13th China
15th South Africa
Now, see the line up of Champions Challenge finals: It is Pakistan v New Zealand; very much in line with the FIH rankings.
This means India stands 9th or 10th in World Hockey. The same is true for Argentina.
So, more or less, didn't FIH rankings predict the results of Champions Challenge?
The match was broadcast LIVE on Ten Sports. No doubts, it was Pakistan all over the place most of the time.
From the very begining, Pakistan made their intentions clear.
6 defenders and a awesome pass to Rehan Butt in the 2nd minute, Butt found the gate between Adrian's feet. This put India on defensive right away.
Few minutes later, getting a PC, they way Mahadik converted in the 8m, showed a lot of promise from Indians. But in the 1st half, thereafter, it was always Pakistan in control most of the time.
It was a treat watching Rehan Butt 2nd goal from the right of the net. Although he was very well marked and equally covered by Goalkeeper, the way he smacked the ball is nothing but insolence. His 2 goals are exemplary of his mercilessness and arrogance.
On the contrary Indians frontline lacked that confidence and Pakis were never desperate while defending either. There were moments when Indians were charging quickly towards to the Pakistan's D, but Pakistan defense line had their role defined crystal clear.
With a PC conversion by Sohail Abbas, it was 3-1 and Pakistan's shoulders were high as the players went for a lemon break.
The 4th goal scored by Haseem Khan was another one that must have made Pak fans jump from their seats.
Towards the last 10m, the Indian defensive looked tired. This was evident by the way Dhananjay Mahadik conceeded a short corner to Pakistan.
Few minutes later, as the score read 4-1, Prabhjot Singh hit the ball on the defender's foot, earning a short corner for India. The style of his shot outlined the state of Indian team, i.e. desperate. Diwakar Ram didn't make any mistake and the score was 4-2.
At certain moments, it was interesting to see that India was very much in attack and in control of the ball in the striking circle. But what came to Pak's rescue was their flawless man to man marking at this time.
2 defenders, 2 forwards, goalkeeper lying few yards away from the goal post, and 1 defender acting as a goalkeeper and Rehan Butt's brilliance was the scene at the time 5th goal.
Compared to the past, Indians passing was much better and there were no empty slap shot on the top of the D. However, Indians looked defensive and were edgy doing that. Pakistan, certainly, outplayed India as far as energy levels and capacity to cover the whole ground is concerned.
The gaps between Indian defensive line and the linksmen also was huge at times.
The interesting aspect of the the match was the number of Field Goals that Pakistan netted during this match; 4. Whereas, India got all their 3 goals from Penalty Corners.
All in all, Pakistan go into the finals with their heads high and blooming confidence levels. Let's see how they fare against the Black Sticks.
Here's the most interesting aspect of this tournament. 6 teams qualified for the Champions Trophy. These teams happen to be World's top 6 teams.
Champions Challenge has 8 lower ranked teams. Here's how they rank.
7th Pakistan
8th New Zealand
9th Belgium
10th Argentina
11th Canada
12th India
13th China
15th South Africa
Now, see the line up of Champions Challenge finals: It is Pakistan v New Zealand; very much in line with the FIH rankings.
This means India stands 9th or 10th in World Hockey. The same is true for Argentina.
So, more or less, didn't FIH rankings predict the results of Champions Challenge?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Five Players boycott national camp in Pune
http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_five-players-boycott-national-camp-in-pune_1312645
Click the above DNA link and read for yourself.
The report is about Indian Men's Hockey team practising in a camp at Pune.
Now, here are the certain ways I can read it:
1) The players who were not selected for Champions Challenge Trophy in Salta, Argentina, will feel humiliated if they attend the camp, hence they bunked it.
2) They didn't get selected hence they are cribbing about the things they don't like there.
3) They were too egoistic in their approach. They feel that they can't learn from someone who is teaching them the basics which 'they think' they are very good at.
In no way, I believe that Brasa is dictatorial. Also, the report is using certain facts to one's convenience.
It indicates that, incidently, Brasa's tiff with Sandeep Singh was followed by Sandeep Singh's departure from the team. Point to be noted here is Sandeep Singh has been declared unfit based on medical reports and will not even play the World Cup. Forgot playing the Champions Challenge.
The report says that there is a growing discontent within the team over the coaching methods adopted by Brasa.
Fair enough; as always, there will be players on the other side.
It will be unfair to judge Brasa's methods before his methods go through a thorough time test.
Click the above DNA link and read for yourself.
The report is about Indian Men's Hockey team practising in a camp at Pune.
Now, here are the certain ways I can read it:
1) The players who were not selected for Champions Challenge Trophy in Salta, Argentina, will feel humiliated if they attend the camp, hence they bunked it.
2) They didn't get selected hence they are cribbing about the things they don't like there.
3) They were too egoistic in their approach. They feel that they can't learn from someone who is teaching them the basics which 'they think' they are very good at.
In no way, I believe that Brasa is dictatorial. Also, the report is using certain facts to one's convenience.
It indicates that, incidently, Brasa's tiff with Sandeep Singh was followed by Sandeep Singh's departure from the team. Point to be noted here is Sandeep Singh has been declared unfit based on medical reports and will not even play the World Cup. Forgot playing the Champions Challenge.
The report says that there is a growing discontent within the team over the coaching methods adopted by Brasa.
Fair enough; as always, there will be players on the other side.
It will be unfair to judge Brasa's methods before his methods go through a thorough time test.
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