Saving one foot for Calcutta

I M Vijayan Bangalore, June 1: I M Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri, the country's foremost strikers, have a dual commitment. They will not on...

I M Vijayan

Bangalore, June 1: I M Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri, the country’s foremost strikers, have a dual commitment. They will not only be assisting Kerala in the National Games, but will also be spearheading FC Kochin’s challenge in the McDowell Cup, their first-ever tournament after the formation of the club.

The two will therefore be shuttling between Bangalore and Calcutta to fulfil both masters, because of the clash in the dates of the tournaments. The reason: Unimaginative planning of the tournament calendar on part of the All India Football Federation.

Kerala are scheduled to begin their National Games campaign against Manipur on June 3, and after their state’s second match on June 7, Vijayan and Ancheri will fly to Calcutta for FC Kochin’s first match in the McDowell Cup on June 8. Then they return to Bangalore to resume duty for Kerala here. “It will indeed be tedious. But it seems there is no other alternative,” says Ancheri.

FC Kochin, who have a few of their key stars in the present Kerala line-up, had earlier pleaded to the Kerala Football Association to release their players as almost all the other states left their AIFF-listed players back home. Goa and Bengal, for instance, have utilised this opportunity to give exposure to their young bunch of players. But the KFA, which did not want to take chances, refused to oblige and FC Kochin were forced to request the Indian Football Association to make changes in the schedule of the McDowell Cup. The IFA said it was not in a position to do so. Both the KFA and the state team management are unhappy with the turn of events. As for FC Kochin, the newly-formed professional club, it is important to have stalwarts Vijayan and Ancheri in their line-up for their debut tournament, especially after AIFF’s refusal to grant them entry into the Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup.