Coach says support staff and physiotherapist are the ‘unsung heroes’
Sudeep Pakrashi Bengal football has been facing criticism and disappointment over the vacuum in producing promising footballers from the state, but Bengal Football Academy (BFA) is setting an example. A contingent that consists of footballers, coaches, and even the state administrator has drawn the attention of the country’s football fraternity through an inspiring performance in the ongoing AIFF Elite Under-17 league in Guwahati. Subrata Bhattacharya, the team’s Under-17 coach however opined his support-staff, especially the team’s physiotherapist Gautam Mitra are the unsung heroes behind the team’s consistent show. BFA has been in stupendous form in the elite phase of the ongoing AIFF under-17 elite league, being unbeaten with four consecutive victories and a draw against AIFA to ensure a berth in the quarterfinal. Before their convincing 2-0 victory against Mohun Bagan on Tuesday, BFA humbled the teams like Kerala Blasters, Sreenidi Deccan and Mohammedan Sporting. The significant part of their consistency is the fitness of the team and the exuberance the boys have been showing on the pitch despite the crude reality that they are getting only one-day rest between the two matches. Bhattacharya when asked about the key factors behind the consistent show, explained, “I do not want to mention Tuesday’s victory only against heavyweight Mohun Bagan. The important thing is the boys’ consistency despite the lack of adequate rest between the two matches. We are getting only one day’s rest between two matches.” He continued, “This has been possible only due to our support-staff, especially physiotherapist Gautam Mitra’s huge contribution. He has been showing magic, helping even an injured footballer to recover and play his next match within only a day. The other coaches of this team and the physiotherapist are the real heroes.” Simultaneously, the experienced coach praised the BFA’s Chief Executive Officer Deep Krishna Hazra for his tireless hard work for the boys, off the field. “Despite being busy with administrative activities, he has been with us in Guwahati for the last two weeks and making arrangement of everything the boys and coaches need every day. His support has become a big motivation for the boys.” Bhattacharya also lamented that Tanbir Dey who struck 50 goals already this season is still being overlooked for the youth national call-up. “The 16-year-old boy has scored 50 goals this season already. Is not it enough to get a national call-up? I feel sad to have noticed that nowadays in the case of national call-ups, only players’ height and weight are observed, not his skill,” explained Bhattacharya. But at the same time, the coach heaped praise on other footballers also saying, “Not only Tanbir, other boys have also been in excellent form especially defender Roshan Chhetri and Ishan Debnath, the midfielder have been performing brilliantly.” Under-16 national coach Isfaq Ahmed is presently in Guwahati to scout potential footballers. It is learned that he is impressed by Tanbir’s performance so far. BFA will face Punjab FC in the quarter-final on Thursday.
Ranjan Chowdhury selected for the ‘lifetime’ award; But AIFF says he is one of the contenders!
The All India Football Federation (AIFF), in its awards ceremony function on 2nd May on Friday in Odisha has shortlisted former TFA coach Ranjan Chowdhury’s name for the ‘lifetime award’. Although according to an AIFF top official Chowdhury is one of the contenders for the ‘lifetime’ award! Even, the official revealed on condition of anonymity that Friday’s award function will be an overall award ceremony. It is not going to be the medal ceremony for only I-league this season or IWL this season. We will organize medal ceremony programs for those events separately. Friday’ award function will be overall.” It is also learned that the short-listing of the best striker, best midfielder, best defender, the best goalkeeper and emerging player’s names have been made from ISL, I-League, IWL and some state football associations will also be presented trophies for their performance in respective football tournaments.”
Supreme Court halts MRA negotiations, declares AIFF’s present body an ‘interim’, and asks for a fresh election
The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, instructed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to refrain from making any major policy decisions, including negotiations to extend the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with its marketing partners, till fresh elections are held. The SC bench, involving Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, observed that all further negotiations for the MRA should be conducted by the new committee that would take over once the elections are held as per the apex court’s directive. The court concluded the hearing of all stakeholders on the AIFF constitution amendment case, which began in 2017. The hearing began on 25th March and spanned over 11 hours, involving extensive debates with all stakeholders, including AIFF’s state associations, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the marketing partners and the sports ministry. After hearing all arguments and submissions the SC bench reserved its judgment and a date for the verdict would be informed to the stakeholders in several weeks’ time, possibly once the courts begin proceedings on 14th July after being on a break for 26th May. It marks a significant moment in Indian football’s governance. During the proceedings, Amicus Curiae Gopal Shankarnaryan addressed the ongoing discussions between the AIFF and FSDL regarding the extension of their 15-year MRA agreement that ends in December. The court identified the Kalyan Chaubey-presided current AIFF governing committee as an interim body and emphasized that under the model code of conduct for elections, the federation must not take any key decisions until the final order is issued. The elections would be conducted once the bench approves the constitution, a draft of which prepared by Justice L Nageswara Rao, is already in possession of the apex court. After the issuance of these directives, the AIFF awards night scheduled for 2nd May in Bhubaneswar, could lose its luster as one of the executive committee members expressed second thoughts on attending to avoid contempt of court. However, the AIFF’s acting secretary M. Satyanarayan could not be contacted for his comments on the decision.
AIFF to ask Churchill Brothers to return the trophy; Churchill Alemao says they will not!
Churchill Brothers does not want to return the I-League trophy to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) even though the AIFF has decided to write an email to the Goan club to return it! The AIFF handed over the trophy to the Goan club in a function on Sunday evening in Goa despite the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) order not to declare Churchill Brothers as the winner of I-League 2025 following an appeal from Inter Kashi. Deputy General Secretary of the All India Football federation M Satyanarayanan stated, “We got to know about the CAS order by 4:45 PM only on Sunday and by that time we had handed over the trophy. We are consulting our legal department and will shortly write to Churchill to return the trophy.” Churchill Alemao, the club’s founder president when asked about the issue commented while speaking over the phone, “We won the I-League this season playing on the field, not playing off the field. So, having earned the highest point we have become champions. We deserve it. AIFF handed over the trophy yesterday in a function. Now, the news are there that they will ask us to return the trophy! Is not it a joke?” Alemao added, “First of all I do not know whether we have received any such email yet. Secondly, nobody can take the trophy back from us even if we receive such mails.” Alemao also added, “We were victimized in different ways in the I-League this season. The key purpose was to stop us from entering into the ISL. But finally, we overcame all the conspiracies and other hurdles and won the League.” Meanwhile, Edmund Lalrindika, the Mizoram striker who had a consistent show with Inter Kashi in the I-League is likely to join Kerala Blasters to participate in the ISL next season.
