Sports
Playmaker Patel
Hockey is 63-year-old Merzban Patel’s goalpost in life. "Most of the boys we train for hockey come from underprivileged backgrounds. Their talent is hidden in the by-lanes of Colaba, Dhobi Talao, Crawford Market, the suburbs … Their parents sometimes cannot even afford the travelling expenses, let alone expensive shoes, kit, etc, ” says Patel, who is coach, manager, mentor, all rolled into one at the Republican Sports Club in Bombay. Everyone knows him as "Bawa!”
The Club, he explains is now in its 50th year, having been founded by Balram Krishna Mohite on Republic Day (January 26, hence the Club’s name) in 1963, when India was at the peak of its hockey prowess. Patel was Mohite’s trusted lieutenant, involved in nurturing and promoting the sport. There have been players trained at the Republican Club who have made it to the Indian team and played internationally, including at the Olympics — Viren Rasquinha, Gavin Ferreira, Adrian D’Souza, Jude Menezes and many more. Three years ago, Patel was chosen by CNN-IBN as one of their 24 ‘Heroes’ and honored for promoting the game of hockey. "Bawa built a dream for me and I will be ever grateful that he was the guy who gave me the self-belief that I could go on to play for India. Bawa is very very strict…” Rasquinha who captained India and who is now chief operating officer of Olympic Gold Quest (a not-for-profit company which identifies and supports Indian athletes in their quest for medals), told CNN-IBN at that time. Patel himself has no formal hockey training, but embodies heart and soul the spirit of the sportsman.
There has never been any money in hockey, Patel asserts. The players have struck it rich only in the last couple of years with the World Series and the present Hockey India League (HIL). Patel mentions the names of Yuvraj Walmiki and Anup Valmiki, who played in the HIL with the Delhi Waveriders and the Mumbai Magicians respectively. "We train boys from around age 9 to 16 and most then go through to higher teams. The greatest stress on me is to motivate the boys and their parents! Hockey is a very physical game. It is not just a question of mastering one or two things! There needs to be good stick work, ball control, running…They have to be strong athletes. If there is a break in the training, they lose their touch.”
Working with the Diners Club Private Limited earlier, Patel has focused exclusively on hockey for the last several years at great personal sacrifice. "I do coaching at two schools as well — Our Lady of Dolors at Marine Lines and Children’s Academy at Malad. Our educational system is not suited to any sport,” he bemoans. "After school hours there is homework, project work, tuitions, etc which take up most of their time and energy.” Commuting to Churchgate to practice on the astro turf at the Mahindra Stadium (Mumbai Hockey Association ground, long involved in a tug-of-war with the government) near the south end of the city adds to the difficulty. "In smaller places like Ranchi, Bhopal, Jalandhar (where hockey is more popular), things are easier. My biggest problem is to explain to 40-50 parents to let their talented youngsters continue with training. Finances are a constraint. The equipment costs around Rs 10,000 — stick, ball, shoes, which may not last even six months. Then there is diet, physiotherapy… Parents think hockey is a gamble, but then finding a job is also a gamble! Being good at hockey is a bonus — it helps youngsters land good institutional jobs with the Railways, Customs, banks, etc.”
Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company has been their first corporate sponsor. Patel expresses his appreciation for the funds received from Godrej and Boyce over the past few years on the occasion of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. "Godrej is not much into the sponsorship of sports. It is very creditable of them to help in the game of hockey. Nobody wants to invest in anything except cricket,” he opines. Older established players also help. "By word of mouth, newspaper articles, etc we have become known to the layman as well as to coaches and talent scouts. I appeal to people to give the Club financial support,” says Patel who can be contacted on his cell 7666193132. Moving into its next half century, the Republican Sports Club aims to remain a happy hunting ground for hockey!
The Club, he explains is now in its 50th year, having been founded by Balram Krishna Mohite on Republic Day (January 26, hence the Club’s name) in 1963, when India was at the peak of its hockey prowess. Patel was Mohite’s trusted lieutenant, involved in nurturing and promoting the sport. There have been players trained at the Republican Club who have made it to the Indian team and played internationally, including at the Olympics — Viren Rasquinha, Gavin Ferreira, Adrian D’Souza, Jude Menezes and many more. Three years ago, Patel was chosen by CNN-IBN as one of their 24 ‘Heroes’ and honored for promoting the game of hockey. "Bawa built a dream for me and I will be ever grateful that he was the guy who gave me the self-belief that I could go on to play for India. Bawa is very very strict…” Rasquinha who captained India and who is now chief operating officer of Olympic Gold Quest (a not-for-profit company which identifies and supports Indian athletes in their quest for medals), told CNN-IBN at that time. Patel himself has no formal hockey training, but embodies heart and soul the spirit of the sportsman.There has never been any money in hockey, Patel asserts. The players have struck it rich only in the last couple of years with the World Series and the present Hockey India League (HIL). Patel mentions the names of Yuvraj Walmiki and Anup Valmiki, who played in the HIL with the Delhi Waveriders and the Mumbai Magicians respectively. "We train boys from around age 9 to 16 and most then go through to higher teams. The greatest stress on me is to motivate the boys and their parents! Hockey is a very physical game. It is not just a question of mastering one or two things! There needs to be good stick work, ball control, running…They have to be strong athletes. If there is a break in the training, they lose their touch.”
Working with the Diners Club Private Limited earlier, Patel has focused exclusively on hockey for the last several years at great personal sacrifice. "I do coaching at two schools as well — Our Lady of Dolors at Marine Lines and Children’s Academy at Malad. Our educational system is not suited to any sport,” he bemoans. "After school hours there is homework, project work, tuitions, etc which take up most of their time and energy.” Commuting to Churchgate to practice on the astro turf at the Mahindra Stadium (Mumbai Hockey Association ground, long involved in a tug-of-war with the government) near the south end of the city adds to the difficulty. "In smaller places like Ranchi, Bhopal, Jalandhar (where hockey is more popular), things are easier. My biggest problem is to explain to 40-50 parents to let their talented youngsters continue with training. Finances are a constraint. The equipment costs around Rs 10,000 — stick, ball, shoes, which may not last even six months. Then there is diet, physiotherapy… Parents think hockey is a gamble, but then finding a job is also a gamble! Being good at hockey is a bonus — it helps youngsters land good institutional jobs with the Railways, Customs, banks, etc.”
Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company has been their first corporate sponsor. Patel expresses his appreciation for the funds received from Godrej and Boyce over the past few years on the occasion of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. "Godrej is not much into the sponsorship of sports. It is very creditable of them to help in the game of hockey. Nobody wants to invest in anything except cricket,” he opines. Older established players also help. "By word of mouth, newspaper articles, etc we have become known to the layman as well as to coaches and talent scouts. I appeal to people to give the Club financial support,” says Patel who can be contacted on his cell 7666193132. Moving into its next half century, the Republican Sports Club aims to remain a happy hunting ground for hockey!
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