Pillai-Ballal: recycling their talent

BANGALORE, JULY 12. They are two of a kind, a mercurial forward in Dhanraj Pillai and a rock-solid goalkeeper in Ashish Ballal. Both did yeomen service to Indian hockey with the Bangkok Asian Games gold, which India achieved after 32 years, being the highpoint in their careers.

But very much like printer cartridges that are discarded after use the two have been overlooked by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) for reasons best known to it. The two have now joined hands to launch the Dhanraj-Ballal Hockey Academy (DBHA) in Bangalore. And the slogan that the two have hit upon is - ``Your waste is as good as gold.''

Aiding them in their endeavour is M/s Letscorp International, a Dutch company that remanufactures used cartridges and sells it world over. They will now cater to the needs of hockey buffs in Bangalore and Mumbai by providing indepth coaching. While asserting that, ``we've not retired yet and will don the country's colours whenever called upon,'' the two Olympians spoke about their plans and the need for an academy at a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.

``It's not to be compared with other academies. Our aim is to promote the game. Training on artificial surface, under flood- lights and providing proper kits will be our focus initially. And all this will be with the support of the Karnataka State Hockey Association,'' said Ballal.

``Presently we will be starting off with about 20-25 players in the 15-20 years category, five days a week. At least two days we intend to practice under lights. If the plans come through we will be awarding scholarships to the young talents,'' added Ballal. Besides the two, former Olympians and hockey players will choose the probables for the academy.

However, a simultaneous launch at Mumbai and Bangalore is not on the cards. ``The Mumbai project, which took shape (along with the support of Mumbai Hockey Association) about a month and half ago will commence from September 1, 2001 while the Bangalore Academy at the KSHA stadium will begin only from October 1,'' said Dhanraj.

The funding of the academy besides sponsorship will be largely through sale of waste cartridges (used inkjet and laser printers, and fax machines) to the M/s Letscorp International. And this is were IT savvy Bangalore will be a boon for the academy.

M/s Letscorp International has also funded projects like the Special Olympics and the Child Focus Programme and now has ventured into contributing its mite towards Indian sport.

Mr. G.R. Itigi of U&I Scotty, roped in to help the academy promptly announced his willingness to sponsor a scholarship.

Meanwhile Pillai under threat from the militant outfit Lashkar-E- Toiba has declined to attend the ongoing Azlan Shah tournament camp in Jammu. ``I'm fit and ready to train anywhere else but not in Jammu. And this has been faxed to the IHF. I'm given a security cover for the last two months,'' said Pillai, while also adding that, ``I've proved myself. Now it's the IHF which should decide my future.'' This was in response to the IHF diktat that appeared in a section of the media on Thursday morning. The IHF had insisted that Pillai attend the ongoing camp at Jammu.

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