Dhanraj Pillay is confident of raising funds for Indian hockey

Former skipper Dhanraj Pillay is confident of raising funds needed to revive Indian hockey

Former India hockey skipper Dhanraj Pillay is known to shoot from the lip. And with hockey in the news for all the wrong reasons, the four-time Olympian lets it rip.

What do you think will emerge from the Hockey India vs Players stand-off?
I think it will be hurriedly sorted by Hockey India today. However, if the players continue to stand united, things could go in their favour. I don't think an entire 22-member team can be suspended (as is the rumour). Whatever happens, there's no denying the fact that Hockey India are ruining the game. Comparatively, the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation was far better when it came to money matters.

But didn't you have issues with Gill when he was at the helm?
I'm not saying Gill was a good administrator. He had his flaws, but when it came to issues concerning money, he was generous.

An example?
As captain in 1998, I met him before we left for a series in Pakistan and conveyed to him that the boys were unhappy with the money being paid to them. I told him bluntly that we needed more money or I would not tour Pakistan. This angered him, but he understood where we were coming from. He left the room hurriedly only to return minutes later with a briefcase full of money for the team.

After we had a good tour, he also gave us Rs one lakh each. But the current regime doesn't even give the team daily allowances.

That's pathetic, isn't it?
Gill increased the allowance from USD 20 to 30, but it's been brought back to $20 and even that was not paid to the team during their recent tour to Argentina.

In the past, there have been times when some officials have cut into players' allowances and returned money to the federation just to be in good books of the administrators.

Coaches accompanying those teams knew about this but did nothing.

But you supported Indian coaches and even slammed the appointment of Spaniard Jose Brasa...
I'm not against a foreign coach. In fact, we had someone like the legendary Australian Ric Charlesworth a couple of years ago, but never used him. I have a problem with Brasa's credentials. He has no international achievements to boast of.

Secondly, if some Indian coaches have been poor, that doesn't mean we should stop looking for coaches in our own backyard.

The problem with a good Indian coach is that the federation feels they have done a huge favour by giving him the national coach's job and his monetary demands get ignored. Then, there are a host of corrupt coaches so desperate to get the India coach's job that they are ready to do it for free.

If Hockey India can pay Brasa in lakhs, can they not afford to pay an Indian coach well? There are good Indian coaches around, but they are being ignored.

But is this the right time for players to strike with the World Cup a few weeks away?
When we asked for more money after returning from a tournament u00e2u0080u0094 having won the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games u00e2u0080u0094 six of us were sacked and the timing of our demands was deemed incorrect. Today, the boys are asking for money before going into a tournament and their timing is termed as wrong. So, when is a right time?u00a0

So, what is the way ahead for Indian hockey?
Indian hockey is in desperate need for money to be pumped in. And for this, I'm willing to go to the doorsteps of people like film stars and corporate head honchos to ask for money. I'm sure no one will refuse me, but the federation will not let me do this.

Even today, despite all the controversy, someone like Sahara Shree Subroto Roy Sahara, is willing to sponsor the national team on the condition that the government formally hands over the reins. Sahara is willing to not only pay salaries to every Indian player but will also pay match fees u00e2u0080u0094 something they had done in 2003, when I had approached them and they paid each player a monthly salary of Rs 25,000.

Sahara has promised to bring Indian hockey on par with cricket as far as money invested and treatment of players is concerned. This will be the best thing to happen to Indian hockey.