Olympic gold medallist takes leave for HIL

‘India win Olympic hockey gold.’Imagine the impact of such a headline here today. In Germany, this has been a regular feature over the last eight years — the golds coming at the 2008 Beijing and the 2012 London Olympic Games — but skipper Moritz Fuerste does not know “if that is enough to secure his long-term future”.

“It is a dream for India (to win an Olympic gold), and I already have two medals but that isn’t everything in our country,” says Fuerste, who was part of Germany’s historic feat.

“If you think that has changed a lot in our lives, sadly that’s not true. This is a Olympic year but even today, me and my team mates balance work and training. If we miss out on work, there is no pay. So, we have to give our 100 per cent to both.”

For the upcoming Hockey India League, Fuerste is on unpaid leave. Ironically, he was the most sought after player in the auction with a record buy of $105,000 by Kalinga Lancers.

“Unlike India, where players do not have to attend office when playing for the national team, it is not the same for us. Playing for Germany hasn’t earned me one euro till date. Winning the Olympics gold did bring some monetary benefits but it was very little,” says the FIH world player of the year 2012.

Fuerste presents the reality of a sport that has to compete with biggies particularly football. He believes better investment and freedom to focus only on training while playing would help them prosper.

“The Olympics is the pinnacle and we cannot win anything bigger. If that is not enough, I do not see a way out,” says the 31-year-old striker, who works as a sport marketing director.

Fuerste laughs at the idea of a league like HIL in his country. “Yes, we will hold the league but no one will show it on TV and almost no one will come to watch it. That is why we are here in India, where people love and promote the sport.”

Fuerste’s isn’t the first in Germany’s hockey history to face the dilemma of choosing between work and a playing career. Star striker Christopher Zeller skipped the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi for studies and better job prospects, when he was just 25. The 2002 World Cup winning captain, Florian Kunz, left the game to take up a full time job.

“You don’t get the recognition that is deserved. Every four years we become the pride of the nation, but I wish we are taken care of financially and otherwise in the years leading to it,” is Fuerste’s honest request to his nation.