ID :
99776
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 09:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/99776
The shortlink copeid
Worst crisis in Indian hockey, HI issues fresh ultimatum
Pune, Jan 12 (PTI) Indian hockey on Tuesday slumped to
one of its worst crises ever with striking players walking out
of negotiations, prompting angry administrators to serve a
fresh 48-hour ultimatum to campers to resume training or get
axed from the World Cup squad.
On a day of hectic meetings and dramatic developments,
both the players and Hockey India (HI) stuck to their stands
and failed to break the deadlock on the payment dispute which
may force India to field a second-string team for next month's
World Cup.
While HI said it did not have the required money to pay
the players, who are demanding Rs 4.5 lakh each apart from a
graded contract system, the campers were in no mood to relent
at the meeting which ended with no immediate signs of an early
settlement to dispute.
HI president AK Mattoo said it was a sad development
that the players chose money over national colours at a time
when the February 28- March 13 mega-event was just round the
corner..
"Any player who is in the complex has to train but it
seems for them (players) money is more important than playing
for the country," Mattoo told a press conference.
"No one has been thrown out of the camp. The players
have been given 48 hours time to resume training. If they
decide not to attend the camp within 48 hours then the camp
will be shut," he said.
Unperturbed by HI's threat to field a fresh team in the
World Cup, the defiant players ruled out joining the camp
unless their demands are met.
Indian captain Rajpal Singh and senior players Prabhjot
Singh, Dipak Thakur, Adrian D'Souza and Arjun Halappa said the
HI offer of Rs 25,000 per player would suit a school side and
not a national team and the players are mentally prepared to
leave the camp here.
Dismissing HI allegation that the players put money
before national honour, Rajpal said, "We came here to practise
and not to skip training. And it's not crime if we talk about
our rights.
"Hockey India said they don't have money. In that case,
we don't want to increase their burden and all 22 players are
ready to fund our own World Cup preparation. But the thing is
they have to give us written assurance which they are not
ready to do," Rajpal said.
Mattoo said a new set of players will represent India in
the forthcoming World Cup if the revolting players did not
report to the camp within the stipulated deadline.
"We are not saying that we are sacking or suspending them
but they will not be able to take part in the World Cup," the
HI chief said.
"I am not suspending the camp, I am closing the camp for
the time being and restart it after some days.
"India will participate in the World Cup irrespective of
the fact that whether they play or not. We will look for fresh
players from across the country," he added.
Mattoo said the players refused to budge from their
stand despite the assurance that their grievances would be
looked into after the HI elections scheduled for February 7.
"I told the players that I have 'X' amount of money in my
hand. If I give it to you, I have to give it to the women's as
well as junior team. I told them all their demands would be
taken to the new body and see what we can do best for them,"
he said.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice president
Antonio von Ondarza expressed shock over the development and
said with just six weeks left for the World Cup, the players
should concentrate on training instead of indulging in
pressure tactics.
"I heard allegation from both sides. It's really a very
sad story. If you come to a negotiations and refuse to move,
it's not going to succeed," Ondarza said.
"Hockey India has just come into being and it's an
interim body. How can it commit for future? That would be a
fraud thing to do. With just 10 weeks to go before the World
Cup, players should not put pressure on HI. They should
concentrate on their training," he added.
Ondarza, who is also the FIH-appointed observer for HI
polls, said it was sad to learn that the present set of Indian
players prefer money over the nation.
"They went out of the meeting and when they returned, I
asked what is more important for them, the national shirt or
the money. They said money was more important to them. It's
very sad," he said. PTI SSC
one of its worst crises ever with striking players walking out
of negotiations, prompting angry administrators to serve a
fresh 48-hour ultimatum to campers to resume training or get
axed from the World Cup squad.
On a day of hectic meetings and dramatic developments,
both the players and Hockey India (HI) stuck to their stands
and failed to break the deadlock on the payment dispute which
may force India to field a second-string team for next month's
World Cup.
While HI said it did not have the required money to pay
the players, who are demanding Rs 4.5 lakh each apart from a
graded contract system, the campers were in no mood to relent
at the meeting which ended with no immediate signs of an early
settlement to dispute.
HI president AK Mattoo said it was a sad development
that the players chose money over national colours at a time
when the February 28- March 13 mega-event was just round the
corner..
"Any player who is in the complex has to train but it
seems for them (players) money is more important than playing
for the country," Mattoo told a press conference.
"No one has been thrown out of the camp. The players
have been given 48 hours time to resume training. If they
decide not to attend the camp within 48 hours then the camp
will be shut," he said.
Unperturbed by HI's threat to field a fresh team in the
World Cup, the defiant players ruled out joining the camp
unless their demands are met.
Indian captain Rajpal Singh and senior players Prabhjot
Singh, Dipak Thakur, Adrian D'Souza and Arjun Halappa said the
HI offer of Rs 25,000 per player would suit a school side and
not a national team and the players are mentally prepared to
leave the camp here.
Dismissing HI allegation that the players put money
before national honour, Rajpal said, "We came here to practise
and not to skip training. And it's not crime if we talk about
our rights.
"Hockey India said they don't have money. In that case,
we don't want to increase their burden and all 22 players are
ready to fund our own World Cup preparation. But the thing is
they have to give us written assurance which they are not
ready to do," Rajpal said.
Mattoo said a new set of players will represent India in
the forthcoming World Cup if the revolting players did not
report to the camp within the stipulated deadline.
"We are not saying that we are sacking or suspending them
but they will not be able to take part in the World Cup," the
HI chief said.
"I am not suspending the camp, I am closing the camp for
the time being and restart it after some days.
"India will participate in the World Cup irrespective of
the fact that whether they play or not. We will look for fresh
players from across the country," he added.
Mattoo said the players refused to budge from their
stand despite the assurance that their grievances would be
looked into after the HI elections scheduled for February 7.
"I told the players that I have 'X' amount of money in my
hand. If I give it to you, I have to give it to the women's as
well as junior team. I told them all their demands would be
taken to the new body and see what we can do best for them,"
he said.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice president
Antonio von Ondarza expressed shock over the development and
said with just six weeks left for the World Cup, the players
should concentrate on training instead of indulging in
pressure tactics.
"I heard allegation from both sides. It's really a very
sad story. If you come to a negotiations and refuse to move,
it's not going to succeed," Ondarza said.
"Hockey India has just come into being and it's an
interim body. How can it commit for future? That would be a
fraud thing to do. With just 10 weeks to go before the World
Cup, players should not put pressure on HI. They should
concentrate on their training," he added.
Ondarza, who is also the FIH-appointed observer for HI
polls, said it was sad to learn that the present set of Indian
players prefer money over the nation.
"They went out of the meeting and when they returned, I
asked what is more important for them, the national shirt or
the money. They said money was more important to them. It's
very sad," he said. PTI SSC
