Augusto Rodrigues
PANJIM: India’s only family run professional football club Churchill Brothers Sports Club and three others United Sports Club, Rangdajied United and Mohammedan Sporting lost their appeal to the Club Licensing Appeal Body, throwing many in Goa in a state of shock and disbelief.
“Churchill Brothers can continue in the Second Division. If they qualify and confirm to the licensing criteria next year, they can qualify and play in the I-League,” stated I-League Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sunando Dhar to Goalfest.
“There were multiple criteria that Churchill Brothers did not fulfill. Finance was just one of them. Youth Development and personnel were some of the other criteria’s not met by the club,” stated Dhar.
“We have asked Churchill not to disband the Club. Churchill Brothers are known to comeback and disbanding the club won’t solve the problem,” stated Dhar philosophically.
“We discussed with Churchill and Valanka why the team was being relegated. They agreed to the axing. The order was passed in front of them. It was a very transparent process,” added Dhar.
“They pleaded for time but that was something that could not be done,” he added nonchalantly.
“The I-League has 10 teams and bid has been opened for more four teams. Two teams have already taken the bid documents. We will get the full picture by July, added the I-League CEO. AIFF General Secretary Kaushal Das was not available for his comments.
“Valanka and Churchill were definitely sad when the judgment was read out to them. Churchill most probably started before I got into football. They were there along with someone else,” explained a source at the AIFF headquarters in Delhi. “There was no acrimony,” added our source.
Churchill Alemao appeared positive that he would win the appeal a few days ago. But that was not the case today. Attempts to speak to Valanka Alemao proved futile. It now appears that the I-League members are confident that the 2014-2015 will consist of 14 teams.”
“The axing of these four teams will not hamper the running of the I-League. We expect more teams to join through the bidding process,” stated I-League CEO Sunando Dhar.
For time being, if Churchill is to be believed, the curtains have come down on a team that at one stage put the spectators through a riot of emotions. Those were the days. Glorious ones! Days, as Sunando Dhar said, Churchill can certainly recreate.
(courtesy: goalfest.blogspot.in)
We discussed with Churchill and Valanka why the team was being relegated. They agreed to the axing. The order was passed in front of them. It was a very transparent process. They pleaded for time but that was something that could not be done.
— CEO Sunando Dhar
