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By Paritosh Pramanik
Jan 12, 2020
HE MIGHT have hung his hockey stick more than a decade ago and now trades his tricks with a tennis racquet, but three-time Olympian Mervyn Fernandes’ heart still beats for his first love.
The Moscow Olympic gold winning forward feels that the Pro League Hockey Tournament, to be held at Bhubaneswar next week, will be a good preparation for Indian hockey team ahead of 2020 Tokyo Olympics later this year.
Eagerly waiting for his doubles match at the CP Club Tennis Court, Fernandes took out time for ‘The Hitavada’ on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.
“It will be a great tournament (Pro League) for us before the Olympics. Playing with a higher ranked team will definitely help us in preparing for the Tokyo event,” said Fernandes.
India will be playing two matches in the Pro League tournament against world Number 3 The Netherlands on January 18 and 19.
Fernandes felt that it was a good move to play top ranked teams before major tournament. “Earlier this (playing stronger teams) was not there. But now Hockey India has made it sure we play top teams of the world. This will definitely help us in future,” felt Fernandes who has played three Olympics — 1980 (Moscow), 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul).
“It will be two good matches against the Netherlands. I am sure Manpreet Singh-led side will give a tough fight to the Dutch team.
“Our fitness level has improved leaps and bounds and players are much fitter nowadays. This will help us in future tournaments, including Tokyo games,” added Fernandes, a 1992 Arjuna Award winner.
The former Indian forward said at present all the top 10 teams are excellent and can’t be taken for granted.
“All the top 10 ranked teams including Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany and even New Zealand are very tough. We can’t take any team for granted. All are capable of creating upsets. But I am sure India will definitely perform well,” hoped Fernandes.
Fernandes accepted that the Indian team has a habit of conceding goals in dying moments but was optimistic it will be changed soon.
“Yes, we have lost many crucial matches in major tournaments by conceding goals in the dying moments. Those minute lapses cost us match from strong position,” he added. “But I am sure that will change in coming years.”
On Hockey India’s recent diktat of One State One Unit, Fernandes said only players will suffer.
Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd and Vidarbha Hockey Association will have to merge with Hockey Maharashtra if Hockey India remains firm on its stand.
“What is the purpose? Only players will suffer. You have to see the effect first. They say, state team will become more stronger. But I think it will not be the case. Some good players would not get selected and that would be harsh on them. We don’t want voting rights but we want our players to play and get national certificates,” he concluded.
By Paritosh Pramanik
THE very existence of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA), hockey governing body of Vidarbha, seems in danger, yet again. The Hockey India (HI) has once again reiterated its stand on ‘One State One Association’ citing Indian Olympic Association’s order for the National Sports Federations.
In 2009, when the Indian Olympic Association had formed Hockey India after dissolving Indian Hockey Federation, the issue of One State One Unit had come up.
The then VHA President BC Bhartia and Secretary Vinod Gawai had presented their case in an excellent manner and had managed to convince Hockey India. VHA, along with several other associations, had then received Associate Membership of Hockey India.
However, Hockey India has once again raked up the issue and has mailed notices to 10 hockey Units including VHA asking them to merge with the State body. In VHA’s case, it, along with The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd, will have to merge with Hockey Maharashtra, which has its headquarters at Pune.
VHA’s merger with Hockey Maharashtra means it will be reduced to a district unit. The biggest sufferer will be the players who will have to fight for place in the Maharashtra squad.
At present VHA sends its teams (18 member) to Hockey India organised national championships.
The deadline given by HI to merge with State association is June 30, 2020.
“From July 1, 2020 onwards the membership of your unit with Hockey India will deemed to be withdrawn and you will be required to co-ordinate your sports activities related to hockey with respective the State Member,” the notice stated.
According to the HI circular issued on Monday, a copy of which is with ‘The Hitavada’, Hockey India has emphasised all the state associations to sync their functioning /structure with the Constitution of Indian Olympic Association (IOC).
The circular, signed by Cdr R K Shrivastava, VSM, Executive Director, Hockey India, has been addressed to President/General Secretary of Andhra Hockey Association, Hockey Madhya Bharat, Hockey Bhopal, Hockey Gangpur,- Odisha, Hockey Patiala, Bengaluru Hockey Association, Hockey Coorg, Hockey Him, The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd and Vidarbha Hockey Association.
Hockey India cited Clause 31.1.3 of IOA’s Constitution which stated: “The right to vote in any of the National Sports Federation is granted to those Associations that have only one Sports Association in one State for those sports. It implies, therefore, that in the field of Sports, it will be “One State, One Unit” and at the National level it will also be one unit (National Sports Federation) for one sport.”
The notice also stated that IOA has recently issued direction in this regard to Equestrian Federation of India.
The matter of bringing all state units in IOA Constitution was discussed in the HI Congress held in November 2019. “It was decided that henceforth Hockey India is also required to follow Clause 31.1.3 of IOA’s Constitution. As such there will henceforth be ‘One State, One Unit’ in Hockey India also.
“It was also decided that the above decision will take effect from 1st July, 2020. Therefore, the teams of your unit will be permitted to participate in the scheduled events being conducted by Hockey India up to 30th June, 2020,” the letter
stated.
This means VHA teams can participate in the forthcoming national championships for boys and girls which will be held before June 30, 2020. After that their existence, in all probability, will end.
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To save VHA, all members
should come together: Sidhra
By Paritosh Pramanik
TO SAVE the existence of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) all members, including the 13 executive committee members, will now have to come together for the sake of players, felt Deputy Charity Commissioner-appointed VHA Administrator Triloki Nath Sidhra.
VHA, at present, is run by Administrator Sidhra after differences grew in the ruling 13-member body.
Sidhra said he had talked with Hockey India Executive Director Cdr RK Shrivastava, VSM on the precarious situation. “I had a talk with Cdr Shrivastava and he has asked me to send our grievances and reason for not merging with Hockey Maharashtra. I have even talked with other Units like Mumbai, Andhra and a few others. We will chalk out a plan and submit our reports,” Sidhra told ‘The Hitavada’.
“But before that I want all members of VHA to iron out their differences and come together to save existence of the association. This is very crucial time for the association and bickering among ourselves will only harm our efforts to save VHA,” said Sidhra.
Sidhra also claimed that Hockey Maharashtra Secretary Manoj Bhore has never invited them for any meeting. “I have not talked with Mr Bhore. We were never invited to attend any meeting of Hockey Maharashtra,” he said.
Hockey India has given time to ‘associate’ units till June 30, 2020 and Sidhra said they will find out some way to convince HI.
“It’s almost six months for us to save our association. We have to present our case with a powerful draft. We will have to show how VHA is working for the development of the game since more than 60 years,” said Sidhra.
“But this will be possible only if all the stakeholders keep their egos away and come together. Moreover, they should think about the players who would be the biggest losers,” Sidhra signed off.
By Paritosh Pramanik
January 3, 2020
IF ALL goes well, football in city will have a new destination from coming season. Nagpur District Football Association (NDFA) has started developing its ground — Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar Football Stadium, situated at Suyog Nagar in North Nagpur, on
war-footing.
A lush green lawn turf will be in offing within a couple of months.
After NDFA got the piece of land from Nagpur Improvement Trust last year, the association wasted no time in developing it. The ground will help the game of football grow in the city, specially in North Nagpur.
‘The Hitavada’ visited the ‘site’ where around 70 per cent of the playing area is relaid with lawn grass. The playing area is secured with around 10-foot high chain fencing which will help protect the grass turf.
The ground has been levelled and proper slope has been carried out to drain out rain water.
Dr BR Ambedkar Football Stadium will also house NDFA offices in future. It will have President’s and Secretary’s cabins apart from separate changing rooms for boys and girls, officials’ cabin and a conference hall.
NDFA President Haresh Vora said work is likely to be completed by March 2020.
“The development work is going on war-footing and the stadium will be ready by March,” said Vora. “Due to court cases the development work has been delayed,” he added.
NDFA is investing around Rs 60 lakh for the construction of ground and stadium. “Till now we have spent around Rs 40 lakh. We will be spending another Rs 20 lakh from our (NDFA) pockets. To construct a world class stadium with spectators galleries we need around Rs 7-8 crore,” informed Vora.
The association is also trying to extend the lease of the ground which is at present of 15 years. “We are trying to get the lease extended for 30 years. If we get our lease extended we can get funds from government. Several corporate houses including JSW and MOIL are ready to help us in constructing a beautiful stadium,” said Vora. “For residents of Suyog Nagar, we have kept the gates open so that they can use the green gym and the walking track. We have not stopped anybody from entering the ground. Only the playing area is covered as it has Bermuda grass,” said Vora.
It was a long-cherished dream of football fraternity of the region to have its own soccer field.
Their dreams, it seems, are coming true. n
