‘I was the only poster boy in Indian hockey’

BY DHANRAJ PILLAY

It went without saying that I had to be a hockey player. Hockey was in our blood. My father played hockey, his four brothers were hockey players. Even my mother’s brother was a hockey player. I grew up in an environment with hockey players around me. Sometimes when we played matches, there were instances that there were two sons and my father on one side while in the rest we played in opposite teams at the Ammunition Factory Ground in Khadki.
It was in 1982 that I was selected for my school nationals in Amravati. I was the lone player from my school. At that time I didn’t get a place in the side, but in 1985 I realised that through hockey I can do a lot, I could also get a job. I could provide a good life style to my family. My inspiration was my brother Ramesh, he inspired all the brothers.
It was then that in 1987, I moved to Bombay and in the next year, I got to rub shoulders with Joaquim. It was then I realised that I could play for the country. I used to adopt the game of Mohammed Shahid because when he played, the entire world would watch him. He was like a magician with the hockey stick in his hand. He used to enjoy his game a lot. After watching him, I decided that I wanted to be a player like Mohammed Shahid.

Journey from Khadki to Bombay
My mother pushed me and my brother to pursue hockey. Education-wise we weren’t really good. My parents had the hope that through hockey we could achieve a lot. I left studies after the 10th standard. The national championship came along so I had to choose between the two of them. I played the 1986 national championship and never fell back on studies again.

Olympic Experience
The Sydney Olympics was one such Olympics where we could have reached the semis and then the finals. Under my captaincy, we won the Asian games in 1998, the Asia Cup – which we won after 19 years. But there is bitterness within me because we haven’t been able to win a World Cup or at the Olympics and that will stay in my mind and heart for the rest of my life. Someday, when I will become a national coach, I will definitely try to win a medal in the Olympics. Not winning the Olympics and the World Cup have been my biggest regret till date.

On the rift between IHF and players
I was the only player fighting for our rights. What we deserved we didn’t get. I can say I was the only poster boy in Indian hockey. I wanted to do lot of endorsements - many multinational companies signed me. But the Federation never encouraged us to promote any endorsements. They never wanted players should become rich.

Association with Foreign clubs
Indian players have lost their reputation abroad. When I was playing in Germany and other countries, I was playing with respect. I was earning money too. It wasn’t just money – I was earning respectable money. I feel ashamed that our players today play for a paltry sum. They are good players who play for the country. They sign contracts and stay over there for 2-2 ½ months – its better that they don’t go and waste their time. I was the only guy who played in six countries. Till Gagan Ajit, Deepak Thakur, Sandeep Singh or Len Aiyappa – that time it was really good because I used to guide them. They used to sign with a person who wasn’t a qualified coach and who hasn’t played hockey in his country.

On the PHL
The only help was from the broadcasters and federation. Besides, Chandigarh there was no crowd; there was no monetary benefit for the players. Only the seniormost players got one lakh per month along with the skipper. Other players like Baljit Dhillion, Baljit Saini were getting Rs. 35,000-50,000. I was the seniormost player for Maratha Warriors and I wasn’t made the captain – that bitterness is still there.

Hockey Goes Down The Drain
After the Beijing Olympics, hockey has gone down the drain. We should have performed in the qualifiers. But we couldn’t. It was the first time in history that we couldn’t qualify for the World Cup. Immediately after that the coach was changed and again the likes and dislikes started.

Foreign Coaches
There were a lot of controversies. Since the last 15 years I was adamant that we didn’t need a foreign coach. In 1994, I said we don’t require a foreign coach, we require an expert who can give us expert training in penalty corners and teach us the European standard of hockey, when and when not to dodge. For full time we don’t require a foreign coach as the chief coach of the Indian hockey.

Restructuring Indian hockey
I will get ten sponsors. I will go and beg everybody – from multinational companies and whatever connections I have. The people who like me and who follow the game. Everyone likes to see Indian hockey on the top. Whenever, I meet Anil Ambani he always speaks about hockey.
They knew that all hockey players are from the middle class - once they gave them good accommodation or new jerseys, the boys were made to feel happy with that. But when I started playing in the foreign league I realized that asking money is our right. Those who have not played hockey even at their homes are boozing around as if that they are the godfathers of Indian hockey.

On Coaching
I am still not completely into coaching. The day I do it I will stop playing domestic hockey. In 2001, I started my academy – at that time I could spare more time for coaching than now. What I learned in foreign clubs, I have shared those expertise. Some of the clubs out there wanted my inputs before the match. I know what is required to become a good player. And that is what I tell the boys.

Marriage Plans
I was so involved with my hockey when I was playing for the country I just wanted to achieve and do something. I really wanted the Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Padmashree and State awards. My brother always told me when I started playing for the country that anyone can play for the country but after being a part of the team, staying there for 10-15 years is very difficult; if you can achieve that then there will be no player like you in India. To be there for 16 years it takes a lot of pain, hard work, determination and that is why I couldn’t think of marriage.

QUICK FIRE
Player – Mohammed Shahid (India), Marc Dellison (Holland) and Farhad Khan (Pakistan)
League – German
Toughest Opponent – Holland, Pakistan and Germany

(As told to Neil Joshi)