Mahindras’ plea

MUMBAI, May 3: Mumbai side Mahindras, sidelined from the Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup football tournament, hope for inclusion after a...

MUMBAI, May 3: Mumbai side Mahindras, sidelined from the Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup football tournament, hope for inclusion after an appeal to All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary KN Mour today.

The jeepmen, who finished at the cellar of the inaugural National Football League (NFL) were not included among qualifiers after the AIFF restricted participants from Mumbai to just the top two of the local Super Division. Mahindras, defending the local title won the previous season, managed just sixth spot.

Another NFL outfit Air-India, the defending champions and runners-up Bank of India thereby made the grade and will vie for eight qualifying spots in a field of 48 clubs over five zones. The eight qualifiers will join champions East Bengal, runners-up Dempo, third-placed JCT, fourth-placeed Kerala Police, BSF, Salgaocar, ITI and Mohun Bagan seeded directly into the main phase commencing June 1.

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Speaking to The Indian Express, Mahindras’ manager Harish Rao expressed disappointment: “After all we have been runners-up twice (in 1991 and 1993) and we possess five players on the National list. But most of all we are an NFL side. Shouldn’t that count for automatic qualification?”

Rao holds no grudge against Bank of India who only played in the Federation Cup once but feels Mumbai should have enjoyed a better representation at the event.