Chandigarh, February 20
The massive crowd that turned up at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium this evening came looking for not only some exciting or thrilling bouts of entertainment but also to have a glimpse of their heroes who from next weekend onwards would be competing against the top teams in an endeavour to regain lost glory in the sport.
But the crowd went disappointed, many of them perplexed as to why the national players, in spite of being here, refused to play. The reason, if any, was money.
Unfortunately ever since the players revolted to demand match fee or a guarantee monthly fee on the lines the Pakistani players get, the game starting losing its sheen. The results were there for everyone to see - World Cup team losing to a club side 1-4 in a warm-up game. And, in subsequent next two games, it struggled to beat India juniors by an identical margin of 3-2.
After the Hockey India gave in and disbursed Rs 5 lakh each among members of the world cup team at Pune, the AMR foundation followed it up offering each player a minimum of Rs 5 lakh each for playing in an exhibition game at Chandigarh ahead of the world cup.
Hockey India and Team Management, with their hands full in resolving the captaincy controversy, were initially indecisive about accepting the AMR offer. When the chief coach Jose Brasa fired an email to Narinder Batra of Hockey India to permit players to play the February 20 - today - game, prompt came the reply in the negative.
Players divided as they were between Rajpal camp and Prabhjot camp, however, went ahead and signed agreement with the Foundation. Though initially foundation wanted a clause in the agreement that the money would go to the Players Benefit Fund, it was changed to suit players demand. The foundation relented and incorporated the clause that the money would go to players directly.
While the HI did not change its stance, it informally allowed players to play in Chandigarh provided they agreed to play under the captaincy of Rajpal. Truce was reached. Further,
the team management also wanted a two-day break for the players before they reassembled for warm-up games against Argentina (February 23) and the Netherlands (February 25).
However, last night, players got the shock of their lives on being told that instead of Rs 5 lakh each, they would be paid Rs 50,000 each as number of sponsors who came forward was far too short of the expectations.
Unwilling to come down from promised Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50,000, players were again split into two camps, one group insisting on playing as any further controversy a week before the World Cup would be a further setback to the morale of the team, others insisted on staying out in case sponsors did not agree to raise the participation money.Negotiations that started shortly after midnight last night continued inconclusively till organizers were left with no choice but to rope in ex-players to go ahead with the announced game of fun and entertainment.
While players sulked and wanted an apology for an SMS that was reportedly sent from the cell phone of one of them to the organizers conveying their decision to withdraw from the match, promoters wanted them to play on new terms of agreement. Deadlock could not be resolved though players maintained that no one had sent the questionable SMS. A day of speculations, rumours and unsuccessful negotiations may have given the followers of the game something to cheer about yet it was hockey and the national pride that members of the World Cup squad carry on their shoulders suffered grievous setbacks. Perhaps money and not the game is the new key word.
