New Delhi, Jan 8 (Inditop.com) The national hockey players have decided to ‘boycott’ the ongoing camp in Pune due to non-payment of their match fees by Hockey India (HI).
The players decided in a meeting Thursday night that they would not attend the camp until the issue is resolved. Earlier, the players in a letter had requested the HI to clear the dues.
“We had a meeting Thursday and we decided that we will boycott the camp until the matter is sorted out,” India captain Rajpal Singh told Inditop.
HI president Ashok Kumar Mattoo said he will meet the “coach and some players” Saturday to get a first hand knowledge of their demands.
“I have got the letter only Wednesday. The letter is vague and it’s not clear what are their grievances,” Mattoo said.
“So I have called the coach (Harendra Singh) and some boys here tomorrow (Saturday) to discuss the problem. Let me talk and understand what they want. Only then I shall be in a position to sort out the issue,” he said.
Asked about reports that the players are not attending the camp as a protest against the non-payment of their match fees, Mattoo said: “I spoke to Harendra Singh (national coach) and he told me that today is a rest day. But there are some murmurs that a revolt is simmering in the camp. That’s why I felt it is important to talk to them personaly.”
HI and sponsors Sahara India Pariwar were involved in a row and that has been settled only two months back. But sources in the camp said the players were not paid any sponsorship money since the issue got resolved and now they want some kind of remuneration.
rounak