The Indian Railways are known to produce many top-class hockey players, who have excelled in national colours, but their fallout with Hockey India (HI) has made life tough for Railways' players.

Last year, HI banned the Railway Sports Promotion Board over a player fraud issue. The ban has had a direct effect on the Railways players' job promotions.

"Our players only get job promotions if our team win the HI-conducted national tournament but following the ban, we cannot participate in the nationals. So life is tough for our hockey players but they continue to give their best," South Central Railway coach Babu Tagore told mid-day after his team stunned defending champions IOCL 5-2 to storm into the final of the 54th All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament at the MHAL Stadium in Churchgate on Tuesday.