Confusion in AIFF on eve of kick-off

With the discussions about the title sponsorship of the National Football League failing at the last minute there was some degree of uncerta...

With the discussions about the title sponsorship of the National Football League failing at the last minute there was some degree of uncertainty on the eve of its kick-off. While sources within the All India Football Federation (AIFF) do confirm the roping in of a co-sponsor, secretary Albert Colaco has gone on to say that ‘‘the league can go on with any sponsors’’.

Adding to the confusion is the uncertainty over the telecast of matches. While Doordarshan and Ten Sports had a tie-up with AIFF till last year, this time there is no clarity on that aspect either.

It is learnt that though the negotiations with electronics giant Samsung have fallen through, talks are on with Hindustan Lever and Hero Honda for the title sponsorship. Co-sponsors Kingfisher (UB Group), Tatas, Coca-Cola, Adidas and media-partner Sangpad Pratidin, however, have signed on the dotted line.

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But Colaco refused to confirm anything, saying, ‘‘Our marketing agents (Strata Marketing) are working out something.’’

President Priyaranjan Das Munshi was also not available for comments.

Meanwhile, the NFL, going on the lines of national leagues abroad, will have Golden Boot and Silver Boot awards from this season.

On the teams’ front, Mohun Bagan have done a first by signing a MoU with a London-based company through which the results of ‘‘all their NFL matches’’ will be flashed on mobiles via SMS. A Mohun Bagan official informed that 60 per cent of the earnings will go to the club fund.

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Another feature of the eighth edition of NFL is that the subsidy to the participating teams will be raised from Rs 100,000 to Rs 250,000 and gate percentage paid to home teams increased from 30 to 40 per cent. Meanwhile, teams withdrawing players from the national camp citing injuries and then found playing in NFL would be punished.

	NFL Preview: Kolkata stars

			Kolkata is traditionally the home of Indian football. Five National Football League titles in seven seasons underline the fact that the centre remains the strongest in India. The five titles have been shared by traditional powerhouses East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, and the two clubs remain strong contenders to take the title to the eastern city for a sixth time. In the second part of the preview of the NFL today, The Indian Express checks the standings of the Kolkata clubs with Mohammed Habib, former Indian striker and coach. THOROUGH PROS: EAST BENGAL AC The high following the ASEAN Cup triumph didn’t last as defeats piled up in domestic tournaments. But with half the national team including national captain Bhaichung Bhutia in the team, they are favourites to retain the title. The bench strength also, is easily the most impressive in India at the moment. Expert Analysis Attack: Best in India (Bhutia, Okoro and newcomer Junior from Brazil) Mid Field: Very Talented (Douglas D’Silva and Alvito D’Cunha) DEFENCE: Very Good (Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Mondol, M Suresh) Goalkeeping: Average (Sangram Mukherjee is inconsistent and often fails to pull off regulation saves) Player to Watch: Malswamtlunga (crowd favourite) Predicted Finish: Top 2, maybe first TRICKY: TOLLYGUNGE AGRAGAMI The weakest of the lot. Their problems compounded with the sacking of coach Subroto Bhattacharya and mass exodus of players owing to poor finances. But they have hung around the NFL for five seasons and might manage to again. They also have the ability to upset the best on their day, as they did recently against Mohun Bagan in the Libero Cup final. Story continues below this ad Expert Analysis Attack: Average Mid Field: Mediocre Defence: Poor Goalkeeping: Average Player to Watch: Amit Das (Long-serving midfielder and favourite of the club loyalists) Predicted Finish: Relegation Zone. GASPING FOR AIR: MOHUN BAGAN AC Eager, but not confident. Internal disputes, irregular inflow of funds and the FIFA rap for non-payment to foreign recruits have subdued them some. But with PK Banerjee as technical director and Stephen Constantine’s former assistant Aloke Mukherjee as coach, they will be out to prove themselves. Expert Analysis Attack: Limited (Jose Barreto is the only regular striker who scores big, but he is too injury-prone) Mid Field: Average (Basudeb Mondol is the key if he stays fit) Defence: Not Good (Not one experienced player) Goalkeeping: Superb. (Prasanta Dora is Kolkata’s best at the moment and was awarded the Best Goalkeeper prize in the Kolkata League 2003) Player to Watch: Barreto (Bagan needs him to fire for any hope) Predicted Finish: Unpredictable A NEW ERA: MD SPORTING n After eight years of hard toil, have finally made it to the NFL. Talented side, but stuck with too many ageing players preferred over the younger crop because of management policy. Talented, but not enough to go too far at the NFL. Objective should be to ensure they don’t get relegated. Story continues below this ad Expert Analysis Attack: Unpredictable (Ashim Biswas’ transfer could be costly; Experienced Dipendu Biswas and Syed Rahim Nabi could be deadly) MidField: Average (Khalid Siddiqui is experienced but has slowed down in recent times) Defence: Not Good Goalkeeping: Below Par (KM Rafeeq is not of NFL standards) Player to Watch: Dipendu Biswas (Nippy and opportunistic) Predicted Finish: Above Relegation Zone (Micky Aigner)

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai shoe attack: Parties unite to slam ‘attack on democracy’

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PM Modi and other leaders condemned the shoe-throwing incident at the Supreme Court, calling it an attack on democracy. The lawyer responsible, Rakesh Kishore, claimed the CJI's remarks insulted "sanatan dharma." The incident was condemned by leaders across party lines, with many highlighting the Dalit background of the CJI and calling it an assault on the judiciary and the Constitution.

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