Football clubs kept in dark about payments

KOZHIKODE, JUNE 25: The new domestic season may be a few weeks away, but clubs that took part in the last edition of the National Footbal...

KOZHIKODE, JUNE 25: The new domestic season may be a few weeks away, but clubs that took part in the last edition of the National Football League are yet to get their dues.

The All-India Football Federation has kept the country8217;s leading club sides in the dark about the payment of appearance money and prize-money due to them.

The AIFF had announced the amounts would be distributed at the Super Cup match between the Federation Cup champions and the NFL champions, which was scheduled to be held on May 27. The much-awaited tie, however, turned out to be a non-starter.

It is to be seen whether the match would be held at all, as it pits two new club teams, entirely different from the sides that played last season, following the inter-state transfers. There are many who feel there is no point in conducting the Super Cup once the season gets over.

Besides, the AIFF is yet to chalk out a calendar of events for the coming season. A number of clubs are reportedly facing financial crisis, and the payment ofprize-money would go a long way in building the team for next season.

BOOST TO INDIA: Meanwhile, there is good news for the Indian team gearing up for their pre-Olympic qualifying group matches. India8217;s chances have received a boost, with Brunei, Laos and Singapore, three of the five teams in the group, pulling out. India are now left with only one rival 8212; Thailand 8212; in their group.

The Indian team, coached by AM Sreedharan, will meet Thailand in the away match on July 17 at Bangkok, and follow it with the home leg at Calcutta on July 24. The team will be announced on July 13.

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The National team, however, was denied the chance of getting valuable foreign exposure, following Kazakhstan8217;s last-minute refusal to host the Indians for a Test series. The Kazakhstan authorities8217; message about the non-clearance of the tour by their government landed on the eve of the departure of the Indian team, on Tuesday. India were scheduled to play five matches in the friendly series.

This has proven to be asetback for the team8217;s preparations, as the AIFF had earlier turned down an invitation from the Oman football authorities, opting for the Kazakhstan tour.

The last phase of the Indian camp will start in Calcutta on June 28. Along with coach Sreedharan, PK Banerjee and Sankar Moitra, the technical director and assistant coach, respectively, will be in charge of the camp. The captain of the team has not been named, but Dipendu Biswas, a senior member among the probables, is tipped for the post.