Hockey: Bring on the big contests: Patel

Ramesh Patel. Photo / NZ Herald

Ramesh Patel has been a constant in the biggest days of New Zealand hockey. His role as project manager for the Owen G. Glenn FIH Champions Trophy was a no-brainer, even if he is no longer on the staff at Hockey New Zealand.

From the time New Zealand was first mentioned as a possible host following the FIH decision to pull the tournament from India, Hockey NZ chief executive Hilary Poole wasted no time in calling Patel - whom she had replaced in that role.

In his time sitting at the big desk, Patel was, rightly or wrongly, seen as a conservative. But this week he admitted if he'd been given the opportunity to host such a prestige tournament, he wouldn't have hesitated.

"My feeling in the past was the team wasn't good enough to go against the world's top six teams. On that basis, we would never have had the opportunity to host," said Patel.

"Now, with what we've seen in the past couple of years, I would have jumped at the chance."

Patel is no stranger to taking on FIH tournaments but, in the past, they've been Olympic qualifiers with teams outside the top echelon chasing the lower Olympic spots.

With New Zealand teams - men and women - in with a real chance, Patel sees such tournaments as a gilt-edged opportunity to host and enhance their Olympic dreams.

But he said this week he would not have put his hand up to take on a second-tier Champions Challenge.

"There wouldn't have been the interest to take what might be a gamble. This tournament is different. We have the eight best teams in the world here and the Black Sticks are competitive.

"The World Cup appeals foremost to hockey people who want to see hockey at its best. We knew from a very early stage the support for this tournament was there. Hockey people from around the country were quick to buy tickets.

"With that base we then looked to the public. We always knew the product would be fantastic so it was just a case of selling it."

Asked whether he felt hosting a World Cup should now be in their sights, Patel had no doubt.

"This is the most prestigious tournament we've had here but in 1991, we hosted 24 teams (men and women) for an Olympic qualifier. Being able to cope isn't the issue.

"Having just three months, like we had this time, is more of an issue. Whatever we get to host in the future we know there'd be longer lead time.

"Could we host a World Cup? Absolutely. Can we do a double World Cup - 24 teams (men and women)? Why not? Anything is possible."

And the venue?

"I'm really happy with North Harbour but there are other venues which could probably do it just as well. There are 140 volunteers here. We would get that same support wherever we went."

Of the on-field action, Patel said he'd been impressed with the Black Sticks but now wanted them to go on and get the medal they deserved.

"In the past, they've started tournaments really well but fallen away and not quite got the reward they looked headed for in the pool stages. This time, they're in the top four and have to go on with it.

"It's no good being in medal contention early on and then bombing out and have to play-off for 5th to 8th. The atmosphere is brilliant and the players certainly have no excuses for not playing well."

Comparing how the game is played now with his time playing internationally and as a member of New Zealand's gold medal-winning team at the Montreal Olympics, Patel admitted there was a difference.

"We would struggle in some aspects but is it any different to how today's players would find it if they were playing back then on grass?

"The game has moved on but the basics are still the same.

"We were all part-timers. They play a lot more hockey these days and the game's certainly faster.

"There was criticism after 1976 that hockey didn't cash in on the interest our success brought and they were slow to put down an artificial pitch.

"It was all about economics," said Patel. "Now we probably have more artificial turfs per capita than any country in the world."

The coup for Patel would be to see the Black Sticks on the dais. And, he won't be alone - many members of that gold medal team are here, ready to join in any celebrations.