Pune:
At a press conference in Pune on Tuesday, hockey players said they are not just worried about the World Cup but worried about the future of hockey.
Team member Adrian D'Souza said, "They told us, win the World Cup and we will give you Rs 1 crore... but we said that's fine, why can't you raise some funds to give us a small amount for all the podium finishes we have had in 2009?" The team had three podium finishes in 2009.
Another player said: "Hockey India still owes us dues from last year. Till when can we hold ourselves back? There comes a time when your patience level breaks."
And yet another: "Everyone knows by now that they have no money for us so it is pretty obvious that they don't have money for us for the World Cup too. Therefore, we are willing to play the World Cup on our own money. We will bear all our expenses. If they have no money, they should resign. Leave alone everything, they haven't even given us any assurance as yet."
Reacting sharply to the Hockey India charge that the players were putting money before the country, the players said: "We are not playing for money. We never have and we never will. It is just the incentive that we are asking for. Most of us have overlooked better financial options to play for our country and we are proud to represent the nation on the international stage. But a little money does play some role. The Indian Hockey Federation came into existence to take the national game to another level altogether, but it seems to backfire. If the Federation cannot take care of us, they better resign and the federation be dissolved."
The Indian players said that HI was not letting the team meet Sahara India, their sponsors and that they had received no reason for the same.
(with PTI inputs)
Team member Adrian D'Souza said, "They told us, win the World Cup and we will give you Rs 1 crore... but we said that's fine, why can't you raise some funds to give us a small amount for all the podium finishes we have had in 2009?" The team had three podium finishes in 2009.
Another player said: "Hockey India still owes us dues from last year. Till when can we hold ourselves back? There comes a time when your patience level breaks."
And yet another: "Everyone knows by now that they have no money for us so it is pretty obvious that they don't have money for us for the World Cup too. Therefore, we are willing to play the World Cup on our own money. We will bear all our expenses. If they have no money, they should resign. Leave alone everything, they haven't even given us any assurance as yet."
Reacting sharply to the Hockey India charge that the players were putting money before the country, the players said: "We are not playing for money. We never have and we never will. It is just the incentive that we are asking for. Most of us have overlooked better financial options to play for our country and we are proud to represent the nation on the international stage. But a little money does play some role. The Indian Hockey Federation came into existence to take the national game to another level altogether, but it seems to backfire. If the Federation cannot take care of us, they better resign and the federation be dissolved."
The Indian players said that HI was not letting the team meet Sahara India, their sponsors and that they had received no reason for the same.
(with PTI inputs)
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