MDFA suspends league

MUMBAI, Dec 16: Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) today scrapped its Super Division matches temporarily, ending days of speculati...

MUMBAI, Dec 16: Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) today scrapped its Super Division matches temporarily, ending days of speculation over the league. The committee headed by General Secretary Commander KR Singh reached the decision at a meeting held today, the official spokesman of the MDFA, Ravi Kokate told The Indian Express today.

The Super Division league had ran into rough weather due to differences between its General Secretary and other committee officials over the manner in which the league was conducted. The officials were irked over Commander Singh’s decision to accommodate a seventh team — a move opposed by all, including the teams.

The league which involved six teams playing round-robin matches will now have eight. These are — Royal Caterers, Bandra Packers, ONGC, Chembur English, Holy Family, Central Railway Mumbai Division and Rhino Sports Club with the last two being new entrants. All matches will now be played on a knockout basis.

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While time constraint has been cited as the reason of the new format, the committee has seemed to have overlooked time and money that has already been wasted in the mess.

Though the team managers of the participating teams also attended the meeting, they have yet to confirm their approval.

Nevertheless, one could not help but notice the under-currents of discontent among the MDFA officials themselves. The players’ frustration is quite understandable. The league which began on December 7 was half-way through.

If the old format was followed, the league matches would have ended by December 23, 1997. But with the new format awaiting approval (it is not expected to start till December 21), the league will definitely be stretched.

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The decision of scrapping the league is another blow to the game and is a clear indication of the sorry state of affairs of the sport in the city.

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