Thorough research, team work behind title win: Dhake

By Paritosh Pramanik

AMOL Dhake believes in thorough research before investing in any new business. He does not mind spending a few more pennies before finalising any deal. In the first Nagpur Premier League (NPL), organised by Lokmat Group, Dhake did the same while choosing every player for his team Satvik Bulls. The investment bore sweet fruits when the Bulls charged to the title defeating Baidyanath Heroes 4-1 in a thrilling final on a special Sunday night.
That fact that Satvik Bulls remained unbeaten in the entire tournament (only one draw in league phase) proves that Dhake’s research had paid off.
“We did a lot of research work before the auction. I have one of the best coaches in Atmaram Pande who guided me in selecting this bunch of ‘heroes,” said Dhake while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ a day after his team became the proud winner of Rs 1.5 lakh purse.
The strategy to pick players was simple for Dhake. He went after talent and not after ‘buying’ costly players.
“We played it safe and decided to fetch lowly but talented players. Here coach Pande helped us a lot. With years of experience under his belt Pande knows the nerves of local football and players. Our first choice was former India player Abdul Khalique. We approached him and after that it got more easier for us to pick players. Khalique too helped us in selecting the ‘cream’ of players,” revealed Dhake.
With talented players in his side, Dhake was sure that his team would reach the semis. “Pande was confident of the team reaching the semis. He trained players very well and was very sure. After winning the semis, the players’ confidence was high and they played with more firepower...and the result is there to be seen,” he added.
An avid cricket fan, Dhake, who also has a cricket team at Tumsar, has now switched his loyalty to football. “Frankly speaking, like any other Indian, I loved cricket. But this tournament has forced me to switch my loyalty. Before the start I didn’t even know the rules but in one month I am aware of almost all the rules of soccer,” he confessed.
Even though the NPL is over Dhake wants his team to remain together and has also offered jobs to those unemployed.
“This is my family. It’s not that I am saying this after winning the title. Right from the beginning I had cordial relations with my players. I wanted them to feel it like a joint family. I used to go to the practice sessions whenever I was in India. I asked them to remain as a cohesive unit even off the field. In the beginning itself I have offered jobs to those unemployed in any of my business firms,” said Dhake.
The success story of Dhake lies in team work and co-ordination.
“I got a beautiful and excellent team of supporters, my friends who were behind the scenes. My well-wishers, like Pranav Singhal, Subhash Chaudhary and few others played a big role in this title win,” said Dhake.
The Satvik Bulls owner termed NPL as a big platform for local footballers. “It would give them a good opportunity and the level of the game would rise in future. But I think there should be less foreign players and we should give more importance to our local talents. Then only our players would be able to play at higher level,” Dhake pointed out.
On the organisational part Dhake said that only Lokmat group could have done that.
“We all know that Lokmat was planning to hold a T20 cricket tournament. But that somehow did not materialise. But Mr (Vijay) Darda did a fantastic job. It would not have been possible without his support.” Dhake mentioned.
“I was aware that if I get associated with them my brand name would automatically get popular. So I never thought of refusing the ‘deal’. I okayed it at one go when the proposal came a few months back,” said Dhake.

VHA-VWHA will have to merge in 60:40 ratio: Bose

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE newly-formed unified Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), in which the men and women federations merged together, will be strictly adhering to the 60:40 ratio for men and women, respectively, at the state-level too.
IHF, that will hold its elections “very soon”, will have the executive body of 19 members in which special attention to women’s representation would be given.
Talking exclusively with ‘The Hitavada’ IWHF secretary-general Amrit Bose said every state unit would have to adhere to IHF guidelines.
“We (IHF) are following government guidelines and the merger has already taken place. At the state level we haven’t merged yet. But once the IHF elections are over then we will make the norms at the state-level too,” said Bose, who was in city to appear before the court in regard to a case filed against the merger of IWHF with IHF.
Bose said until the elections were held and proper body of IHF elected the men and women associations would work separately.
“Till that (elections) we are allowing men and women associations to work as separate bodies. After the office-bearers are declared we’ll frame our rules and form a committee and then go to the state level and try to merge those bodies affiliated with IHF and IWHF.”
The IWHF secretary also made it clear that there would be no one-state-one-association and all those affiliated with IHF and IWHF would get affiliation.
“There will be three units in Maharashtra. Vidarbha, Mumbai and Maharashtra will work as separate associations,” Bose mentioned.
When asked whether the 60:40 ratio, like in IHF, would be strictly implemented as the state level too, Bose replied in affirmative.
“Yes, we will try to implement the same at the state level too. Otherwise the men’s association will throw the women’s units out. That is why we have kept a minimum 40 per cent ratio for women in the merged IHF body. There will be representation of one male and one female from each state and male can not take female’s place. That we have mentioned in the constitution. Women’s representation has to be there,” Bose clarified.
On the case filed by Mrs Sudarshan Pathak against the IWHF, Bose, the first Indian woman International umpire, said, “They (Hockey India) just want to stop IWHF from merging with the IHF. The general house sat together and took a collective decision. Who’s Hockey India to stop us? Hockey India can not dictate my members where to go.”
Bose also claimed support of 26 units out of 31 favouring the merger.
“Out of 31 units, 26 are with us. They have all decided to join IHF. Even I can’t stop them. Who’s Sudarshan Pathak? She’s nothing in IWHF. She is with a parallel hockey body in Delhi. They have no jurisdiction to file a case against us that too here in Nagpur,” said Bose, after one of the cases filed by Pathak against IWHF was dismissed by the District and Sessions court.
Bose clarified that attending a few Hockey India meeting doesn’t mean that she is with them. “Attending a few meetings of Hockey India doesn’t mean that I have joined or have become part of Hockey India. Government of India called me and asked to join hands with IHF. The Government had called both the federations (IHF and IWHF). Vidya Stokes (who joined Hockey India) didn’t even attend the meeting. Mr (KPS) Gill and I attended the meeting with the government officials,” she revealed.
Bose informed that IWHF members had rejected Stokes totally at the meeting. “On June 12, 2010, our general house has rejected her totally and passed a no-confidence against her that she is no more our (IWHF) president,” she said.
Asked whether she would be contesting the elections, Bose said, “No. I have decided. I’ve done my job. I’ve been fighting for these ladies and there existence. I’ve been IWHF secretary for 12 years. I wanted to give chance to youngsters. I don’t mind being advisor to them. But not as an office-bearer,” she concluded.