Churchill raps Alberto on letter issue
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 10
Churchill Alemao, patron of Churchill Bros, today took umbrage at the letter (not show cause notice) written to him by Alberto Colaco, General Secretary, AIFF regarding the news item “Refs need to raise standard,” which appeared in Herald in its edition dated April 6.
“Without going into the merits or demerits of what Colaco has written in the letter, Churchill questioned the authority of a paid employee to write to him, in the first place and in that tone. “I have asked the General Secretary under what power or powers of the AIFF Statutes he could write to me in that language. Let him quote the relevant powers which he is vested with to take such a decision. I have also asked him to send me all rules, regulations under which he is taking suo moto action without the concurrence or approval of either the Executive Committee or the I-League Committee,” remarked Churchill.
“I have taken up the issue with AIFF President, Praful Patel today. It is very serious and there is need to sort out matters immediately,” Churchill stated.
“What has pained me is that the General Secretary allegedely tore the four invitations sent to AIFF office in Margao for the AFC Cup match between Churchill Bros and Al Hilal of Yemen on April 6 which were delivered at this office by PRO Peter Figueiredo. He not only tore them, but handed over to Tony Cabral to be handed to Assistant Secretary, Anil Kamat so that the torn pieces could be delivered back to Peter Figueiredo,” disclosed an angry Churchill.
“The invitations were sent to AIFF and hence they are not his private property. He had no right to tear them and send them back. My PRO subsequently met with both Cabral and Anil and both confirmed that the torn invitations were given back by the Secretary. I want to know under what Articles of the Constitution he has powers to tear the AIFF invitations,” queried Churchill, who displayed the torn pieces.
“We reserved four seats for AIFF in the VVIP stand, the names of national coach Bob Houghton and coach Tolin Coal being clearly earmarked in the main seating row. The third seat was occupied by Tony Cabral and one was left empty. If there was something amiss, the General Secretary could have well sent them back with a DO letter, pointing out the lapse, if any. By no means, he had the right to tear them. It is very insulting and unbecoming of a senior official and, moreover he is not the AIFF,” pointed out Churchill.
Churchill stated that he did not want to make an issue of the same, but was forced to as he received the letter only yesterday after it was selectively leaked out to one newspaper only and that too which never carried the story about his comments on referees. The copy of the letter was marked to Praful Patel and GFA, Churchill added. The GFA promptly denied having released the letter to a section of the Press, however.
This is not the first time that such letters are being addressed to by the AIFF. The GFA also was the recipient of a similar letter recently, questioning the conduct of the Police Cup football tournament during the I-League. The GFA’s Managing Committee, in its wisdom decided that it was not worthy of a reply. “It is not fit for a reply,” a GFA official commented.
Meanwhile, a cross section of club officials pointed out the standard of refereeing in the ongoing I-League football matches was generally poor. It leaves much to be desired,” they felt.
“We don’t want to be on record as criticism now invites letters, which only indicate that feedback or comment is not at all welcome. If somebody is constantly striving for improvement, giving insights on performance, strength and weaknesses it can be quite useful,” an official remarked.
“It is important in today’s ever changing world to take any evaluation on a positive note, as through inputs one can grasp how others perceive one and this awareness is critical to adjust one’s approach. The outcome of giving and receiving feedback depends on the kind of relationship as well as the type of persons handling the situation. Generally, if someone is arrogant-like and feels that even a small amount of criticism is totally uncalled for, then it shows that one is not open and a negative reaction could be the expected outcome,” a human resource manager stated.
In such a case it is better that one doesn’t express one’s thoughts or feelings, he added.
“One has to be open-minded and must make sure that your intention is to help improve the system, to help and not to point the flaws,” another official remarked.
“Any positive and constructive criticism should be welcome and offering suggestions for improvement must be the order of the day in a proactive management. One must accept it as a challenge,” the official remarked.
“Sometimes, despite one’s sincere intentions, the powers that be often do not like to be shown the faults, sometimes with which they have nothing do, and as such feel offended with the feedback. It takes courage and confidence to acknowledge when one can do better and what one cannot. Above all, a good manager is one who is willing to face caustic remarks,” he added.
“Trying to impose one’s ideas is not the in-thing in a democratic set up. One must be able to understand others’ view points and give up when necessary.”
“It is difficult to pinpoint the bias, if any, in refereeing. But let me tell you that sometimes we have been at the receiving end and at other times we have been the beneficiaries,” an official remarked.
“Often the Match Commissioners and the referees belong to the same State. Can you expect independent, impartial and neutral assesment?, he contended.
“Take the case of English Premiership. Erring referees have been penalized, demoted. This is what is called transparency. I haven’t heard of any punishment in India,” another official pointed out.
