The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Keeping the spirit of hockey alive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Keeping the spirit of hockey alive

Staff Reporter

Anglo-Indians celebrate Independence Day with a game of hockey

The event allows women to be a part of the hockey team
Rules have been relaxed to make it a community event

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

For the love of the game: Young Anglo-Indians playing hockey during the seven-a-side hockey event in Bangalore on Wednesday.

BANGALORE: There was a difference in the celebration of the Independence Day at the Frank Anthony Public School ground on Wednesday. A large number of people from the Anglo-Indian community observed the day in the way they love the most – playing hockey.

Young as well as old merrily participated in this annual event organised by the All-India Anglo-Indian Association. While some were on the field playing, others formed a part of the cheering group.

“It is a hockey festival for Anglo Indians… an occasion for the community members to celebrate the day together, and enjoy good hockey and good food,” said Bernard Hereford, president of the association.

This seven-a-side hockey event is unique for it allows women, usually two each, to be a part of the hockey team. Teams play for 20 minutes and the maximum goals that can be scored is six. Rules have been relaxed to make it a community event. This includes allowing players only to dribble and not hit the ball and allowing only three persons, including the goalkeeper, to defend during penalty corners.

“The whole purpose of the event is to keep alive the spirit of hockey among the community,” said 50-year-old Allen Coyne from Chennai, one the oldest players in the event. The youngest player in the event was Jude Edwards and Joel Joseph, both all of seven.

Sixteen teams participated in the event.

Besides those from Bangalore, there were two teams from Chennai, one from Coimbatore, and last year’s winning team from Todanur in Tamil Nadu. The participating teams had fancy names such as Rastafarians, Hell Razors, Old Monks, Patriots, Bad Company and Madras Veterans. One called Brat Brigade comprised sporting players aged between five and 12 years. Players also included those currently playing at national level such as Adrian Gabriel, goalkeeper for the Indian Railways. Mr. Gabriel was a part of Madras Veterans team here.

The teams played 30 matches in the day on the two makeshift pitches. Good-natured cheers went around for every save and a good tackle and every child’s move to enter the “D” using his little Rakshak hockey stick was applauded.

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