Bagan follow EB example,release players

But,following a meeting with Indian Football Association (IFA) secretary Utpal Ganguly on Tuesday,Bagan decided to release their players for the national camp in Dubai from June 25,on condition that the AIFF will meet their demands put forward in Tuesdays meeting.

The released players include Deepak Mondal,NS Manju,Rakesh Masih and N Mohanraj from Mohun Bagan,and Renedy Singh,Rahim Nabi,Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Govin Singh,besides Bhutia,from East Bengal. Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have,however,listed three conditions for releasing the players.

No stepping back

These include asking the AIFF to arrange a meeting by July 10 to decide on their earlier demands,making it clear that the release of players shouldnt be treated as their stepping back. The clubs have also said that,in case of injuries during the camp or the matches,the players medical expense should be borne by the AIFF and the federation will have to pay the fees to the injured players till they recover and join the clubs.

AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco has agreed to arrange an executive committee meeting by July 10 and said that he would request president in-charge Praful Patel to be present.

All the points raised by the clubs will be discussed in the meeting. Regarding expenses,I am pleased to inform you that we have met all expenses related to injuries which have occurred during India team camps and matches and will continue to do so. Regarding fees,we are arranging appropriate insurance and we will do whatever is needed to see that players and clubs are not put to any inconvenience, Colaco wrote in a letter to Ganguly.

The national team probables will attend the conditioning camp in Dubai till July 7,followed by training-cum-exposure trip to Spain. Indias next international assignment is the Nehru Cup in Delhi from August 19 to 31.