Carvalho lashes out at government apathy towards hockey

Mumbai, Jul 14 (UNI) Indian hockey coach Joaquim Carvalho today came down hard on the apathy of the government towards the sport.

''The government and the people, all want us to do well and bring laurels for the country, but how can we do this when the government is so insensitive towards our needs,'' He questioned.

Mr Carvalho made these comments after being felicitated by cine star Jackie Shroff at a function, organised by Congress spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam here.

Giving an example, Carvalho said that he had asked for composite hockey sticks for the boys, but even after two camps had passed, he did not receive them.

He was then told that he would get 28 sticks, but he refused, saying that with 18 players atleast two sticks per player should be there and accordingly asked for 36 sticks.

Carvalho said he finally went to the stores department of the SAI office. ''Over there in the basement, I saw 200 hockey sticks lying unused, but the government was not ready to release even 36 sticks and then they say that hockey standards are falling,'' he added sarcastically.

Carvalho said that there was an urgent need for a second astro turf in Mumbai city. The Indian coach said that in a city like Delhi which does not even conduct its own league matches, there are three astro-turfs, but in a city like Mumbai, which has a thriving league, there is only one.

UNI