Thaindian News

Pune, Jan 12 (IANS) India hockey players Tuesday sent a strong message to Hockey India (HI) saying that if the national body can’t pay them, they would spend their own money and play in next month’s World Cup here.
The 22-member squad, led by captain Rajpal Singh, met the media at the Balewadi Sports Complex after their second round of talks with HI officials failed to break the deadlock. The players, who were at pains to explain their stand tried to put up a brave front and said that if HI sacks even one player, the rest will quit.

Striker Prabhjot Singh said that if HI can’t afford to pay the players, the officials should step down.

“For the last 10 years we have not demanded anything. If HI can’t pay us then the officials should resign. Let the new body be formed and they will pay us,” he said.

Prabhjot added that the players were not given any assurance by HI officials.

“We went there and whatever we wanted gave them in writing. In 2009, we had some podium finishes and we want incentive or reward. The first thing they said is that ‘we don’t have money’.”

“If that is the scene then how can we come to a solution. We said we would like to have a conversation with Sahara, the sponsors of the team. But there also we did not get any assurance. We don’t know anything about their (HI) accounts, expenditure.”

“We came back with the draft. We are back to square one,” he said with the entire team backing him.

Rajpal said: “We will play the World Cup with our own money if it (HI) can’t pay us. We are a national team, not a school team.”

“We are being heard only because of the World Cup. You think we would be discussing here right now had it not been for the World Cup? Why only players are told that they should play for the country. Why can’t the administrators think about the country,” asked mercurial forward Deepak Thakur.

Goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza said: “We are wondering about the future of the sport. We were promised Rs.25,000, but we are not beggars. We wanted HI to organise a meeting between the players and sponsors Sahara. But they did not pay heed to our demand. We will play the World Cup with our own money if paying us is a burden for HI.