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Journalism of Courage
The All India Football Federation on Monday decided to stick to its A team policy for the Nehru Cup,making it a five-nation event. The decision was taken after Palestines decision to send a club side for the only international tournament hosted by the country.
After consulting our sponsors ONGC and media partners Zee Sports,its been decided not to accept the Palestine B team for the ONGC Nehru Cup 2009 scheduled from August 19-31,2009. The tournament will now feature five teams,namely India,Syria,Lebanon,Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka, an AIFF statement said.
Palestine had replaced Thailand after the latter wanted to field an under-19 team. With only a week remaining,looking for another alternative was not feasible,an AIFF official said. Palestine insisted on fielding a B team. But,according to information reaching us,it would actually have been a club team. Their stance is unacceptable. But since the time is too short for us to arrange another team,the tournament will be back to its old round-robin format,with the top two teams clashing for the title, he told The Indian Express.
The Palestine Football Association,however,was quoted as saying by a news agency that B team didnt mean they were fielding a club side,and that that they would withdraw if the AIFF insisted on the main team. It is impossible to send our national A team as all the players are holidaying. If the Indian federation insists on sending our national A side,I think we will have to cancel our participation in the tournament, Palestine Football Association general secretary Sami Hussein Makkawi was quoted as saying.
