Sporting Clube de Goa relegated
Savio, clubs flay inclusion of India U-19 directly into I-League
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, AUG 4
GFA secretary Savio Messias made a fervent plea at the I-League clubs meeting called by AIFF in New Delhi on Wednesday following GFA’s general body meeting’s decision that Sporting Clube de Goa should not be relegated since Mahindra had withdrawn, but it fell flat. Moreover, Messias did not get any support from any of the club representatives present at the meeting.
Consequently, Sporting Clube de Goa stand relegated to Second Division I-League for 2010-11 season. It’s final.
Victor Fernandes, Sporting Clube de Goa vice-president, who had made a last ditch effort with the AIFF for the club’s retention in the prestigious I-League, when contacted in Goa, said :”Let’s wait for the official reply to out letter.”
The AIFF officially stated that the 14 teams that will vie for the coveted I-League championship are Dempo SC, Churchill Brothers, Pune FC, Mohun Bagan, Chirag United, Salgaocar SC, Kingfisher East Bengal, JCT Phagwara, Air India, Viva Kerala , Mumbai FC, ONGC, HAL and India U-19 Development Team, who will replace Mahindra United.
Sporting had made a plea to retain them since Mahindra had withdrawn the team, but it was of no avail even tough Messias made a strong case for retention of Sporting. His was the lone voice heard by the clubs including those from Goa.
Messias pleaded that the inclusion of India U-19 in place of Mahindra was not proper, since the team was not promoted from the Second Division. Nowhere in the world can a club or team be given a direct entry into the main league, he argued. When told that ‘let’s try it out’ he felt that the youngsters would be used like guinea pigs. But the powers that be insisted on giving it a trial, And the matter ended at that, even as the clubs vehemently opposed the direct entry of India U-19.
Most I-League clubs felt that the AIFF was taking major decisions without seeking their views and consent since there was no representative of theirs in the Executive Committee which ultimately took all the decisions. They opined that their representatives should be invited for the EC meetings. “The clubs should be taken into confidence,” many expressed, since there were sometimes biased decisions being taken, but the issue was diplomatically skirted a la political style.
The Federation Cup, meanwhile, has been scheduled for September, but no venue has yet been decided, typically a la AIFF style. Typical of their style of professionalism.
The ONGC I-League will kick off in the third week of November after the Asian Games with 14 teams.
The assessment team from the AFC for the club licensing criteria will be in India from October 23 to November 1 for inspection. A workshop for the all the I-League clubs will also be held on November 2.
There was a proposal to increase the number of foreigners in local leagues, which will be the same like in the I-League.
