New Delhi: It was a complete about turn within 24 hours by the Indian hockey team players. On Saturday, the revolt seemed to have died down, but by Sunday evening, the fire was burning once again.Forward Indian Hockey Team, Prabhjot Singh said, "We have not got the incentives that we had asked for. Till we get a final decision on this, we will not practice. Everyone in the team has decided this together."
Sources have told CNN-IBN that the players had not resolved the issue in the first place, yet both they and Hockey India were guilty of going public with a declaration of truce.
Hockey India had told the players that it did not have the money to agree to the demands and that it could only offer a maximum of Rs 25,000 per player for the results of 2009. It had said that the rest would be taken care once an elected body replaced the ad-hoc body.
The players were also pulled up for putting money before the country.
President Hockey India, Ashok Kumar Mattoo said, "I think the lack of communication was very important factor in talks breaking down. That's a lesson Hockey India as well as the players should take from this. There are other routes we should look at. I have no other tool of communication than media."
"I explained our financial position to them (players). I also showed them how we have spent the money. I see no reason why they have taken this route. Disciplinary action can be taken even on the last day but I don't want to do that. That is the last alternative. I think boys are being mislead and their ways are wrong. We are open to negotiations but we are not ready to get blackmailed," stated, adding, "My first priority is to get the boys back and then to conduct elections smoothly."
Sources say the players decided to go back to Pune to consult their teammates, but with Hockey India offering next to nothing, the team decided to close ranks once again. They are sticking to their demand of monthly salaries and financial incentives.
Prabhjot Singh said, "All 22 players discussed this and we decided that we did not like their (Hockey India's) proposal. We will wait for the outcome of our meeting with hockey officials and then decide on our next course of action. Our demands remain the same. Now the entire team is together," he added.
The Secretary of Maharashtra Hockey who was present at the closed door meeting players and Hockey India officials on Sunday has told CNN-IBN that the officials are considering strict disciplinary action against the players including suspending them and selecting a brand new team.
The official says the players present at the meeting on Sunday didn't utter a word.
Hockey India officials are to meet the players again - this time on their own turf in Pune. The players say this has been a difficult decision and want an early end to the sorry chapter.
The coach of the team, Jose Brasa has supported the players whole-heartedly saying their demands were just.
"We have to understand that the players are very, very sad. Some of them were close to crying because they do not want to take the decision of stopping to play because they want to play, but I think all you will agree that they should be paid for playing. I am not from India, I am not the only one saying what we should do this, I am not saying what the Indian Government should do, but what I am reading in newspapers is that they should be paid and they should earn some money for playing in the national team," he said.
But even as they squabble, it is India's chances at the World Cup in Delhi which starts February 28 that are taking a beating.
Source:
http://publication.samachar.com
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