CHENNAI, FEB 27: Frankly, one was hardly surprised at Dhanraj Pillay leading a ``revolt'' which, in any case, had been brewing for more than a year now. In late 1996, at Chennai, Pillay had raised the issue of poor payments to the National players with Indian Hockey Federation boss, KPS Gill. Quite typically, assurances were given and calm was restored.But then, hockey players, by and large, have always found themselves at the wrong of end of the stick as far as remuneration from the IHF is concerned. It is far worse on a foreign tour when they are paid niggardly allowances, much less a guaranteed lump-sum payment for the tour itself.The IHF, for reasons best known to itself, has been fighting shy of meeting its commitments to the players. It is a known fact that in the past 18 months or so, the IHF has been grossing huge amounts through sponsorship and/or TV rights. But the money has not been percolating to the players who, after all, are the ones who perform.Even seThe Karnataka State HockeyAssociation, for instance, is due about Rs 12 lakhs towards conduct of the Senior Nationals in Bangalore last year, and by the look of things, the hitherto obliging KSHA officials are unlikely to sit on their haunches with the bowl in front, for long. Why, they might even stir up the IHF pot a bit, Pillay-style.During the 1996 Kuber Champions Trophy at Chennai, Pillay and Pargat Singh had justifiably pointed out that the Indian players should be paid at least 25 per cent of the sponsorship amount received by the IHF. ``After all, Kuber derive mileage through us wearing their logo on our shirts. So, it is only correct that we are paid a good percentage of the sponsorship amount,'' the senior players had pointed out to Gill.In fact, chief of the Kuber Group, P K Sharma, had also endorsed the players' view on a cut of the sponsorship amount. One is not sure whether the IHF obliged and, if so, the amount.The IHF, apparently, has no worthwhile policy on sponsorship and connected matters, and one suspectsadhocism in dealing with this issue. For far too long, the hockey players have been subservient to authority, and treated as though they were mere court jesters.Probably, these ill-paid stars needed a Pillay to give voice to their resentment, and one hopes that the IHF would lend a sympathetic ear which, otherwise, could well be bitten off, Tyson-style ! The warning must be heeded.
