Sticky issues dog WIFA

MUMBAI, August 27: Even as Indian football attempts to become professional, the sport in Mumbai is gripped by adminstrative anarchy.The S...

MUMBAI, August 27: Even as Indian football attempts to become professional, the sport in Mumbai is gripped by adminstrative anarchy.

The Super Division League 8212; the premier local competition 8212; has been rocked by lapses that threaten far reaching consequences on the health of the sport locally and perhaps even at the national level.

The case of Salim Ansari, Mahindras goalkeeper, is the most glaring. The former Dempo custodian played as many as five league matches here before being cleared by the All-India Football Federation AIFF. The Western India Football Association WIFA have failed to come up with a rational explanation.

When grilled by the press, assistant secretary Wali Mohammed claimed that Ansari is in the clear and has every right to play for Mahindras. Mohammed8217;s answer was based on a list of transfered players furnished by the AIFF that included two Salim Ansaris. They read 8212; Salim Ansari Akthar Ali and Salim Ansari Samra 8212; both transferred from Mohun Bagan Calcutta to Mahindras.When pointed out that neither are the Salim Ansari in question, a beleagured Mohammed could only request reporters to wait for AIFF8217;s decision on the matter. Teams that Mahindras played, however, may not have as much patience.

Mahindras themselves are vague on the matter. Coach SS Hakim, who took over from Deryck D8217;Sousa at the beginning of the season, said: 8220;We played Salim Ansari when WIFA informed us he was in the clear. We stopped playing him when they told us we could not.8221;

The WIFA, flayed in the last week for bad ground conditions at the Cooperage 8212; scene of Federation Cup matches 8212; have been made to feel hot under the collar in the last week or so.

Another dispute resolved8217; by WIFA8217;s disciplinary committee fined erring Central Bank of India CBI Rs 5,000 for fielding Valky D8217;Silva, a player from Goa8217;s First Division side Curtorim. D8217;Silva8217;s sojourn to Mumbai could be best termed nomadic, devoid of the requisite transfer formalities.

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The committee has debarred D8217;Silva but have kept further action on CBI pending till its completion a decision that displeased other teams in the competition. Besides, the failure to impose just retribution on CBI is widely feared as setting an unhealthy precedent.

Most irked must be be Air-India and coach-manager Bimal Ghosh who filed a protest after drawing 1-1 with the bankmen. The WIFA Super Division committee had recommended scratching Central Bank from the nine-team league. However, the disciplinary committee, which met subsequently, overruled that decision.

The heaviest brickbat hurled against the WIFA concerns the chairman of the disciplinary committee, SS Shetty 8212; an ex-CBI employee who was expected to step down when it came to deciding his team8217;s fate. Shetty, a renowned referee in his time, ought to have appreciated the need to present an objective panel during the CBI case.

Maharashtra8217;s Santosh Trophy squad have yet to reap the fruits of fine performances at successive National championships.

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A total of Rs 1.5 lakh accrued as prize money after semi-final appearances at the Jabalpur 1996-97 and Guwahati 1997-98 editions but the money has not been paid to the players as yet.

Western India Football Association WIFA assistant secretary Wali Mohammed, however, informed that the settlement of dues will be made during the forthcoming Rovers Cup tournament.

Mohammad informed that The All India Football Federation made good the money by cheque two months after the tournament but did not offer any reason for the delay in payment to the players. Making the last four at Jabalpur meant Rs 50,000 to the team with the remaining lakh being won at Guwahati.

As far as the Jabalpur earnings go, Mohammed said the committee he succeeded would know best about the delay. Whatever the reason, many State players now disbursed the lenght and breadth of the country may have well given up receiving what is justly theirs.

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Other delays in payments include Rs 25,000 incentive for winning the second leg of the last National Football League match by Air-India and 20 gate reciepts as stipulated by the AIFF.

Mohammad claimed that the clubs in question 8212; Air-India and Mahindras 8212; have not approached the WIFA to peruse accounts, a pre-requiste to settle dues arising from gate receipts.