Play for railways, sleep in trains and drink dirty water

Groups of three have been billetted in each compartment and they share the two toilets with others in the coach. For drinking water they either have to walk to the nearest railway shed or trek all the way to the CST station. Of course, there is dirty water stored in overhead tanks also.

And if the CR thought that being employees of railways the players would be well versed with the life in a train compartment, the hosts were mistaken. Their guests have complained that blaring horns of passing trains wake them up at odd hours "at least fifteen times every night."

But that’s only a minorirritant. The other night a Northern Frontier Railway player woke up with a start. His compartment was moving. "It was quite a shock…well, we had missed a couple of goals, but they could not send us back for that," he said recalling the experience. Soon the entire compartment was up.

When their bogie finally stopped, they were told by a yard employee that the batteries of the compartment were to be charged and hence "a bit of shunting."

Another team was relaxing yesterday afternoon. They had no engagements for the day and wanted to rest. Suddenly water began pouring in from the windows. They rushed out to gather their clothes hanging on a make-shift clothesline outside and saw a man clad in dirty khakis filling the overhead water tank. "Pani khatam ho gaya saheb," he said grinning from ear to ear.

Central Railway officials said their responsibility ends with providing water and power supply to the players. Mukul Marwah, Chief Public Relations Officer, said that the CR could not accommodate theplayers in any railway guesthouse as they were already occupied. He added that necessary facilities were being provided to the players and that he had not heard any complaints.

He won’t hear any in future also. Most of the sportsmen were reluctant to talk to this reporter. "We are employees of the railways…we’ll get into trouble," said one of them. A few who spoke didn’t want to be identified. But they are all angry. A South Eastern Railway striker said: "We have never been treated like this anywhere. The last time, for instance, the competition was held in Punjab and all the teams were accommodated in either schools or RPF camps, which had at least basic amenities like drinking water and bathrooms." His teammates are equally upset. "We are being treated worse than beggars," said one angrily.

An official attached to the organising committee of the tournament said the accommodation problem was brought to the notice of senior officials when Mumbai was being discussed as a probable venue for thetournament.