Benefit match for Minoo Sir

Honoring his services for producing players of international calibre the Women8217;s Hockey Association of Maharashtra WHAM has decided to conduct a benefit match.

Seventy-five year-old Minoo Golakari, who is remembered as a dedicated coach in women8217;s hockey circles, was also one of the first trainees to attend the coaching camp at NIS Patiala.

A man who has all the necessary traits to be one of the recipients of the Arjuna Award has been forgotten not only by the National women8217;s hockey body but also the State unit WHAM for quite a few years.

Realising their folly late, the State unit out of nowhere, seems to have woken up and has chalked out a benefit match later this year.

Arnavaz Damania, the president of the Women8217;s Hockey Association of Maharashtra, said that two teams 8211; the Indian team and a Combined XI will be called for the match at the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Polygras Stadium.

Minoo has many trainees in Mumbai and Pune, especially girls from Maharashtra, who look up to him, owing to the high standards maintained by Minoo. Eliza Nelson, an Arjuna Awardee from Pune was one of his best players.

Damania, former president of the Indian Women8217;s Hockey Federation who is to attend the hockey World Cup both men and women for the first time, as Competition Task Force, said that Minoo would stand to gain Rs 5 lakh after the encounter, which would make up for the years of strife by a man who has been a classic example of the sports system failing to help a man who gave the best years of his life for the game.

Although it did happen to one of the Olympians, Joe Philips, WHAM is gearing up for the show in a big way.

Modest that he is, Minoo Sir8217; as he is known says, 8220;It is not the monetary benefit that I am interested in, but getting my pupils together pitted against the youngsters of today is my aim.8221; and adds 8220;I will write to all those who I know and try to call them for the day,8221; he said.

Till date, his liking for the game is as it was 30 years ago as he makes himself present at the ground, no matter where it is being played, SRPF ground or the PCMC Polygras Stadium. 8220;The girls get me,8221; says Minoo.

Although it is a long way to go for the inaugural benefit match in Indian women8217;s hockey, if it comes true it would be a big day for hockey lovers of the city which was once known as the nursery of Indian hockey.

There was a lot of pandemonium at Damania8217;s residence before one could come to a conclusion about the benefit match. Originally there were four teams for the purpose, but reduced to one match after a lot of discussion, and rightly so, as it is a benefit match and not a benefit tournament!