After being relegated to the I-League Second Division this season, the state sports ministry of Manipur has reduced the financial grant to both Neroca FC and TRAU FC from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 50 Lakh each. As TRAU has reportedly obtained donors for this season, it might not be difficult for them to continue with the grant to take part in the I-League Second Division this season.

But Neroca FC has been passing through hard times, especially after facing the Fifa-ban for this season. The club had to face a Fifa-ban after two of their foreign footballers, Darius Perwood and Ibrahim Nurudeen sent their complaints to Fifa for not being cleared of their contract money.

The club secretary Moirangthem Manimohon, when asked about the issue, lamented, “How can we survive without sponsorship or a proper investor? We have failed to clear the dues of 70 percent of the footballers. Naturally, they are unhappy and two foreigners have gone to Fifa. So, firstly we have to clear the dues of the respective footballers so that Fifa raises the ban. Then we have to start building up the squad. It is difficult for any club to build up a formidable side with a grant of only Rs 50 Lakh.”

Neroca FC needs nearly Rs 15 Lakhs to clear the dues of two foreigners and an Indian footballer for the lift of the ban.

This apart, ahead of their Durand Cup zone-one match, scheduled to be held at the end of July, the club secretariat seems worried about the building up of the squad. The club needs at least an additional financial grant of Rs approximately Rs 35 Lakh. Manimohon said, “We have made a request to the state sports ministry to issue an additional financial help of Rs 35 lakh for our participation in the forthcoming Durand Cup. If we do not receive that in time then it would be difficult for us to field the team in the Durand Cup. We will get time to find out donations before the I-League-2 as it is expected to be held in January.”