Professional football: A step backward
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 20 2012: Football Clubs in the state who once took important role in producing world class footballers in the country have taken a step bakward today when the whole country is looking forward.

The various football clubs in the state are now appeared to be sidelined themselves from professional football.

One example of the prevailing future of football in the state is the failure to respond to the instruction of AMFA who notified the football clubs for the ongoing Federation Cup.

Besides, AMFA had invited applications from interested clubs to participate in the I-league second division.

Unfortunately, not a single club responded to the call of AMFA for the league.

It has been a dream for every footballers of the state to participate in the country's top league I-league.

However, the prevailing condition of football in the state has made the dream of I league a far cry.

Addressing a press meet at the office of AMFA, Jyotirmoy Roy, Joint Secretary of AMFA said that the main reason behind the failure of football clubs to participate in the I league second division and Federation Cup is the non qualifying of the eligibility criterias for the tournaments and the non privatisation of the clubs.

Talking about the ongoing 7th Manipur State League, he said that the home team for each match is required to change their uniform and bring required number of balls for the match.

However, failure of the home teams to fulfill the guidelines has made AMFA difficult to organise the league.

AMFA is awarding the Fair Play team of the league a cash prize of Rs 50,000.In order to win the prize, not only the players need to play the match fairly, but also the officials and fans need to support their teams and encourage them to play the match fairly.

If fans of the team threatens the referee or use harsh words against them, the chance of winning the prize will be lost, he added.

He further said that the paper on football which was presented in the three day seminar on development of Sports in NE region was supposed to be presented by AMFA Secretary Ranjit Roy.

However, an official of MOA informed AMFA that the paper submitted by AMFA will be read by someone other than Ranjit Roy. The person who read out the paper is not an expert of Football and he is not related with AMFA.

He does not have any knowledge about the newly laid artificial turf at RAU Ground, he said and added that AMFA will discuss the matter in its Executive Council.

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