Hockey India president Ashok Kumar Mattoo stressed yesterday that the country's hockey players are putting money before national pride.

Domestic players are better paid than their India counterparts

Hockey India president Ashok Kumar Mattoo stressed yesterday that the country's hockey players are putting money before national pride.

In response, the players argued that if money was so important to them, they would have continued playing for their respective employers rather than attend the World Cup preparatory camp in Pune for which they don't earn anything.

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) hockey team is a classic example of domestic players being paid more than their national hockey counterparts. Here is a team which lost the Guru Tegh Bahadur All-India Gold Cup final in Mumbai yesterday. Yet, they had much more in their pockets than the Indian team members in Pune yesterday.

Despite ONGC losing 2-5 to Air India at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium in Churchgate, they could well be rewarded by their employers, according to coach Neeraj Pant. That apart, the ONGC players earn a daily allowance of Rs 1800 besides lodging and boarding while playing a tournament anywhere in the country.

So, given the Mumbai tournament was held from January 2 to 12 (11 days), the total earning for a single ONGC player is Rs 19,800.

Compare this to Hockey India's offer of Rs 25,000 per player for national services rendered in 2009 and it's easy to see why representing your employers is more 'lucrative' than playing for India.

"When I was coach (2007-08), the players got Rs 25,000 before going for an international tournament besides a daily allowance of USD20.

"While this is not big money, when compared to the current scenario, I think my team were better off. I won't blame the current lot of players if they decide to quit the national team and turn out for their employers because they make much more money there," said former India chief coach Joaquim Carvalho.

Dhanraj Pillay too explained why playing on the inter-office circuit is more financially rewarding than slugging out for one's country.

"Most employers take very good care of their players because these guys bring glory to the company.

"It is sheer ignorance on the part of Hockey India if they feel that our hockey players are putting money before national pride," said Pillay.

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