Casey Henwood says, IPL style rebel Indian league can refurbish hockey’s charm
Casey Henwood, the former Black Sticks player, believes that the new version of the hockey league on lines of the Indian Premier League, the cricket event can play vital role to restore the lost hockey glory.
Speaking before hundreds of his fans gathered at the Mangapai Hockey Club Centenary in ASB Leisure Centre of Kensington Park, the former star appraised the lavish style of hockey league that is likely to be held in India at the end of this year.
Henwood spoke to the participants during the dinner, in which some travelled from as far away as the neighbouring country of Australia. He informed that the lavish style of league soon will be initiated in India.
It is vital to mention here Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), in a joint venture with Nimbus Communication, plans to launch an annual league with prizes worth of millions of dollars. However, the International Hockey Federation (IHF) along with Hockey India
declared the league unofficial. Despite several warnings from international body and national federations, many international players have been indulged with the rebel league. Some former players believed that the fast-paced league could help the players to
improve their games.
Henwood was of the opinion that many of the experienced players did not want to continue at the top level and had intensions to partake in generous leagues. In his views only few hockey pros managed to play in the European events, but the proposed India
World Series Hockey (WSH) could change this scenario.
Casey Henwood has had 88 international caps in his professional careers and retired from the sport back in 2009. However, he is still in touch with the sports’ activities at the national level. He was also working to make changes in the National Hockey League
later this year.
Commenting about the career of Henwood, Murray Byles of Mangapai Hockey Club stated that he donned the colours of this club before joining the university and was outstanding player at that time.
In honour of Henwood, the club also organised a two-day event in which traditional rivals Springfield faced Mangapai. Both the teams played two matches on Saturday while three on Sunday. It is vital to mention here that the club was established back in 1911
and had long history of sport activities. Firstly, it was constituted as a Rugby Club and only eleven players decided to form a hockey squad instead of rugby. The future of hockey could have been different if more than eleven showed their will to join this
game.
However, still the former stars of the Mangapai Club are precious reservoirs of the sport for the new youngsters.
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