It’s play without pay for Youngs

Out of sponsors,the club has failed to pay the players their last four months’ salary and every time they have taken field in this period,they have run short of their bench strength.

“We’ve been under severe pressure of keeping the team intact over the last few months due to lack of funds. Our sponsors backed out early this season and we haven’t been able to get another so far,” Simla Youngs coach and official Tushar Dev said,adding,“Earlier we were a semi-pro club and I could have managed funds on my own. But the AIFF regulations required us to be a professional club to be playing in the second division I-league. Understandably,we had to increase our budget with a sponsor behind us. But it’s not possible for me to pay the same amount out of my own pocket. In such a scenario,I’m happy that the players have shown faith and kept playing. We can’t bother about the results.”

During the Federation Cup qualifiers eight members of the squad — all from Jharkhand — weren’t available. The practice sessions,both regular and pre-match,have been done away with too,to cut the expenses. “The players are directly playing in the matches,without any preparation. So,even if it’s not the best we could have gotten out of them,I can’t complain,” Dev added.

Faith keeps them going
Anxiety and faith are the poles all players are hovering between and faith is the last straw they are holding onto. “It’s a sacrifice we all have to make. Being a professional player I have to keep on playing but when you think you are not getting paid for what you are doing,it certainly affects your game,” Nigerian Samson said,adding,“Another side to this is playing keeps you distracted. Once we’re inside the field we don’t think about it. We have faith in the management and hope things will be normal soon. I’m here this week but I don’t know where will I be the next?”

Former Churchill Brothers midfielder Danny Muinao agrees. “No practice,no training is not normal for a football club. I haven’t received my salary since I joined the club last June,there’s tension but we can get out of it only when we are inside the field. Nobody can question the commitment of the players in this situation but it gets back to our heads when we are off the field. So,playing is a better option,” Danny said.