The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : German league beckons Indians

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Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
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Sport - Hockey

German league beckons Indians

S. Thyagarajan

Chennai: The hockey connection between India and Germany is poised to touch a new high this year. If the current indications are right, there may be as many as 18 to 21 National players figuring in the German league in different divisions.

While the national media, quite predictably, took note of the offer to the seasoned mid-fielder Viren Resquinha and striker Deepak Thakur, speculation in the German media is rife about a big contingent from India has been contracted to be part of the league which is gaining in popularity.

The IHF sources confirm the possibility of between 18 to 20 players figuring in the German league this season. A majority of them will leave after the conclusion of the Asia Cup in Chennai on September 9. Olympian Adam Sinclair and international Senthil are already in Germany. In fact, they have played a few matches too. Among those likely to be part of the contingent are Arjun Halappa, V.S. Vinay and V. Raja.

Not long ago, the IHF was a bit reluctant to permit National players to be part of the foreign league. But the administration has obviously realised the benefits of experience for the players, apart from lucrative pay packet while playing in Europe. The popularity chart in league competitions in Holland, Germany and Spain has gone up with increasing number of Indians figuring in the club-level league competitions.

Prominent members

Gagan Ajit Singh and Dilip Tirkey were prominent members of the Dutch league for the last few years as were Arjun Halappa and Vinay in Spain.

Members of the German media are a bit surprised by the sudden interest shown by clubs to induct Indians, especially when the team’s performance in the international competition was anything but outstanding.

Some journalists connect this to the work done by the former India coach from Germany, Gerhard Rach, who is associated with club-level hockey there.

Several players in the past have been guest players in foreign leagues. Jude Felix, former India captain, played for Indian Gymkhana and later at Lyons before turning coach for his French club. Olympian Jagbir Singh took part in the German league in the early Ninties. He was followed by Dhanraj Pillay, who has played in England, Germany and Malaysia. Punjab’s Gundeep Kumar was among the guest players for Indian Gymkhana in London.

A majority of them left for foreign leagues after they were discarded from the national team. Now, the administration is not totally averse to allowing as many as possible to sign with foreign clubs so long as the domestic programmes remain unaffected.

India is also getting a substantial number of foreign players for the Premier Hockey League. The biggest group, however, comes from Pakistan.

Domestic programme

Meanwhile, the IHF has finalised to kick-start the domestic programme after the Asia Cup in Chennai. The sub-junior nationals in Bhopal and a clutch of all-India tournament, like the Nehru Cup and Murugappa Gold Cup, are expected to be completed before the National championship, which will conclude at Ludhiana.

There is also a faint hope that India may still be the preferred choice of the FIH if a decision is taken to shift the Champions trophy out of Lahore on security reasons. The FIH is yet to spell out its decision in this regard. The IHF is ready to host it either in Chennai or Chandigarh on the same dates (December 1 to 9).

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