Somaya visit gives campers shot in the arm

Somaya visit gives campers shot in the arm
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BANGALORE, MAY 31: A pleasant surprise awaited the pre-Olympic hockey trainees at the Akkithimmanahalli Stadium on Wednesday. With the day being earmarked for a full fledged practice-match, the players trooped in an hour later than usual, but their faces glimmered with pleasure on looking at the man waiting for them. Maneyapanda Muthanna Somaya, in the city on a private visit (how unfortunate that the IHF could not utilise him officially), not only visited the camp, but also spent time advising the players.

With the experience of having led the National team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics backing his advice, Somaya's words must have been worth their weight to the campers.

"How can I miss an Olympic training camp?'' he asked. "It seems like being transported 20 years back in time watching these boys play. My first Olympic captain (Baskaran at the 1980 Moscow Games) is the coach of the team today; the boy who made his national debut under my captaincy (Dhanraj Pillay at the New Delhi Nationals in 1989) is the star of the team; aren't these reasons enough for me visit the camp?'' he asked.

"I only hope they achieve what I did in my first Olympics (win the gold medal),'' were his prayers for the team.

As if invigorated by Somaya's presence, the players dished out an enthusiastic and energetic fare in the match between the dark blues and the light blues. That the match, essentially to test the progress made by the campers, ended in a 1-all draw with Baljit Singh Dhillon nullifying the lead Prabhjot Singh gave the light blues, spake of the keenness with which it was contested.