Miffed Ansari may get the boot

BANGALORE, June 2: Arif Ansari, who refused to accompany the Maharashtra team for the National Games after being denied' the captaincy, fa...

BANGALORE, June 2: Arif Ansari, who refused to accompany the Maharashtra team for the National Games after being denied8217; the captaincy, faces disciplinary action from the Western India Football Association WIFA.The Central Bank medio, who did not turn up at the time of the squad8217;s departure to Bangalore, is yet to intimate the team management of his non-availability. 8220;It is from newspapers that we came to know that he8217;s not keen on coming,8221; said Maharashtra manager Alex Fernandes, who is also the WIFA vice-president, and team coach Deryck D8217;Souza.

Both termed Ansari8217;s attitude as 8220;unfortunate8221; and denied that he had been appointed the Maharashtra captain at any stage of the selection process. 8220;True, we had indicated that Ansari stands a chance to be appointed captain if senior players like Godfrey Pereira fail to find a place in the squad,8221; said D8217;Souza. 8220;But once the All India Football Federation lifted its restriction on the listed8217; players, Godfrey was included and was the natural choice for captain. Immediately, we appointed Ansari as the vice-captain. But it seems he is not happy with the decision, as his reported statements in the newspapers indicate.8221;

The team management will submit a report on the affair to the WIFA soon after the state8217;s engagements in the Games are over. The association is expected to decide on further action after studying the report.

The Maharashtra side was reshuffled thrice because of the uncertainty over the status of AIFF-listed players. 8220;Godfrey and six other listed players figured in our preliminary list. But, after the AIFF intimation that the Games fixtures would be counted among the 45-match restriction, we dropped the seven and inducted new players. However, after the AIFF waiver a couple of days ago, we again reshuffled the team.8221;

Team officials said Godfrey, the Indian vice-captain and best player of the Philips National League, was even ready to step down and play under the captaincy of Arif after he came to learn about the latter8217;s displeasure.8220;It is unfortunate that Ansari went to the press to show his resentment instead of coming up with an official protest,8221; said D8217;Souza. The veteran international recalled an incident when he was axed as the captain of Mafatlal Club side in 1969. Though Bhupinder Rawat took over as captain, D8217;Souza said he was only happy to play under him. 8220;Ego should never come in your way, atleast on the playfield.8221; Surely, Ansari should have known better.