Pillay to launch academy

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, MAY 26: Dhanraj Pillay, India's maverick hockey striker, plans to set up a hockey academy in Mumbai, fuelled by funds generated from waste ejected by an information-technology driven society. According to him, the proposed training school will run on funds coming his way from an eco-friendly Dutch company, Letscorp Europe B.V, which will pay 1.25 Deutche Marks for every inkjet and toner cartridges used once, returned for recycling. The cartridges are used in printers and fax machines.

The Indian will be approaching corporates for lending helping a hand to his academy plan, in the form of used cartridges collected and despatched to Amsterdam by Players Forum, a trust to be floated for this purpose.

During my playing stint in Germany and earlier tours to the Netherlands, I became aware of terms like environment and recycling and their importance in our lives, said Dhanraj. When this Dutch offer came up which would take care of the money part, leaving me to look after the hockey aspect, I jumped at the proposal.

The proposed academy, expected to be launched in September, may be based at the Bombay Hockey Association ground, Mumbai's only artificial surface.

Having come up the hard way, I would like to give something back to the game when I am still playing, explained Dhanraj about the reason for getting involved in a project even when his name is among the list of Indian probables for the Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He does not think the new venture will come in the way of his international career. Mumbai has enough ex-Olympians whom I will be approaching for assistance in running the academy. After all, they know more about playing and coaching than me.

Dhanraj has sought permission from the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and guidance from national coach Cedric D'Souza, considered an authority on the game.

Incidentally he has been excluded from the probables list for the World Cup qualifiers after missing the Bangalore camp due to a knee injury suffered during a domestic tournament. I had taken permission from IHF president K.P.S. Gill for rest and recovery. I have recovered sufficiently enough and am doing beach running now. I have informed the federation about my condition and am waiting for communication from them.

His last international match was the final of the President's Cup at Dhaka, where India defeated Pakistan for the title. Recently honoured with Padmashri award by the government, he has played in three Olympics, three World Cups, three Asian Games.

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