AIFF Super Cup | I-League clubs ready to participate if “future discussions” promised

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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After weeks of protest nine I-League clubs have now written to AIFF General Secretary expressing their desire to participate, if the federation is open for future discussions. Meanwhile, East Bengal have stated that they would go against their investor and play a reserve team in Super Cup if needed.

The controversy surrounding I-League clubs’ participation in the elite knockout tournament has dragged on for over a week now with All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel yet to respond. However, after AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das sent a letter to six I-League clubs - Quess East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, NEROCA, Churchill Borthers, Real Kashmir FC and Chennai City FC, the union has responded with a letter that is in IANS’ possession at the moment.

The signatories has conveyed that all the nine clubs are willing to participate provided Patel would be sitting with them to address the issues concerning them. "We wish to put on record that each of the undersigned clubs are eager to participate in the prestigious Super Cup as communicated in our letter dated 18th February 2019. We had also stated in the same letter that we are looking for a meeting with Praful Patel, President, AIFF, to address the concerns of the I-League clubs including the creation of a unified league, composed of the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League and clubs from the second division," the letter said, reported IANS.

“While we are keen to participate in the Super Cup, a discussion about the future of the I-League is equally important."

IANS has also reported that the clubs have now presented with a combined league, which, as Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj, was engineered following a long meeting of all the signatory clubs in Chennai on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the rift between East Bengal and their investors Quess might have reached to a whole new level after the Kolkata club has reportedly decided to play in the Super Cup against their investors’ wishes even if that required them fielding a “team comprising of reserves.”

This development took place after the chairman of the Quess East Bengal FC Pvt Ltd., Ajit Isaac didn’t address East Bengal’s concerns. Senior club official Debabrata Sarkar said, “We are sticking to our stand of taking part in the Super Cup because it involves sentiments of our fans and former players. If our football team refuses to play, we will field a team from among our reserves. This is why, we have kept a plan ready to call a practice session with our reserve players on Friday. If the situation demands, we may involve Santosh Trophy players and try to take more players on lien from other clubs,” reported TOI.

To facilitate the same, East Bengal’s executive committee member and IFA president Ajit Banerjee has been given the responsibility to assemble a team that will be managed by former player Chandan Das, who will be their temporary coach.

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