Lopsided matches disappoint fans

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There have been goals galore in the IOB-Syed Ahmed memorial all-India hockey tournament but the on-field action has been anything but absorbing.

Too many one-sided contests have taken the gloss off the competition. A neutral observer who turns up at the venue in the hope of watching a cracker of a contest is bound to get exasperated at the manner in which some of the unfancied teams have thrown in the towel without even looking to compete, leave alone causing an upset.

The margin of victories gives a clear indication as to how mind-numbing the matches have turned out to be: 10-0, 9-0, 9-2, 9-0 and 5-0.

A common feature in almost all the matches played so far, barring one or two, has been the capitulation of the weaker teams.

True, they are at a distinct disadvantage in terms of the quality of players they have at their disposal but the least that is expected of them is to go out on the field and give it their all irrespective of whether they win or lose.

Miracles do happen sometimes and there is no point in giving up on hope even before striding out onto the turf.

Getting an opportunity to test their mettle against teams that are streets ahead of them should be considered a god-send by these lowly teams, for that is how they can aspire to reach their level of competence.

What was particularly distressing to notice amongst the minnows was there being no determination, no sense of pride involved and one can’t be faulted for presuming that a defeatist attitude has been entrenched in their psyche.

Elucidating on the reason behind the lack of many stimulating encounters, Reehan Ahmed, who is the organising secretary of the tournament, conceded that the matches haven’t been as exciting as one would have hoped for and listed out a variety of reasons.

“The teams that are usually at the receiving end of a mauling are from districts where they are deprived of state-of-the-art facilities.

They are inferior to their city counterparts in every aspect ranging from fitness levels to the finer points of the game. The tournament usually gathers steam from the quarter-final stage onwards when on average all the matches go to the wire,” he said.

Reehan, who wishes to call a spade a spade, also came down heavily on the unscrupulous administrators who according to him are a bane to the sport.

“There is no accountability on the part of the administrators. They are only intent on feathering their own nest even at the expense of the players’ future being put at risk.

It’s not as though there is no talent to choose from at the district level. They are not getting enough opportunities to make the grade to the next stage. Most of these players haven’t had the experience of playing on an astro-turf before.

That is why they are found wanting. And as if that were not enough they are receiving scant support from the powers that be,” he added.

Spectators will have a lot more to look forward to if the tournament only involves top teams of Chennai. But Reehan says his aim is to give a platform to teams that have no exposure.

“We are indeed aware of the ways to make the event more interesting in the early stages. At the same time, we are duty bound to provide exposure to district teams,” he added.

For someone who inherited the passion for the game from his inspiring father Syed Ahmed, who was a player of great repute, Reehan has moved heaven and earth to make this tournament a grand success.

One could only hope that the administrators share the same concern and love for the game to bring back the glory years and give the fans something to cheer about after years of agony and despondence.