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I-League: JCT Deciding To Shut Shutters Is A Big Shock To AIFF – Sukhwinder Singh
The technical director of JCT spoke to Goal.com and discussed as to why the Punjab based club decided to fold up…
21-Jun-2011 7:23:00 AM
By Rahul Bali
For someone who has seen JCT take birth, grow to gradually make a mark amongst its peers and to rest in peace forever, his words, even though few, would be treated as scripture.
Sukhwinder Singh, who has been part of JCT ever since its inception in 1971, was taken aback by the decision of the club management to close shutters in what was a 40 year old institution known for producing some of the best talents to be seen in the country.
“I had gone to the office for some purpose and it was then that I was given the sad message by the management.
“JCT deciding to pull out is a big shock to the AIFF,” said the experienced coach.
Towards the end of 2009-10 season, Mahindra United had announced their decision to disband the club as they didn’t see any opportunity of making a return on investment in the current I-League model and they refused to buy the AIFF’s story of a ‘better future.’
Sukhwinder opined that JCT’s decision to follow suit isn’t entirely similar to that of Mahindra’s and he explained the same.
“Mahindra’s reason and that of JCT are different. Mahindra had a huge budget and were spending a lot. They weren’t getting return on investment. If you see JCT’s case, though we had limited resources, the reason to shut down isn’t about not being able to profit from our investments,” reasoned Sukhwinder.
“Though the logic given by Mahindra was the same as what we have given,” he added.
JCT have highlighted the lack of eyeballs and the unprofessional environment in which the league has been run as some of the factors for their decision to end their association with competitive football.
“I am with my management in their decision and the reasons they have given. If you play in grounds like that in Gurgaon which are nothing more than a paddy field, how can you run the league?” questioned the former India coach.
“Punjab football will now become like Delhi,” he mentioned.
Sukhwinder Singh, who has been part of JCT ever since its inception in 1971, was taken aback by the decision of the club management to close shutters in what was a 40 year old institution known for producing some of the best talents to be seen in the country.
“I had gone to the office for some purpose and it was then that I was given the sad message by the management.
“JCT deciding to pull out is a big shock to the AIFF,” said the experienced coach.
Towards the end of 2009-10 season, Mahindra United had announced their decision to disband the club as they didn’t see any opportunity of making a return on investment in the current I-League model and they refused to buy the AIFF’s story of a ‘better future.’
Sukhwinder opined that JCT’s decision to follow suit isn’t entirely similar to that of Mahindra’s and he explained the same.
“Mahindra’s reason and that of JCT are different. Mahindra had a huge budget and were spending a lot. They weren’t getting return on investment. If you see JCT’s case, though we had limited resources, the reason to shut down isn’t about not being able to profit from our investments,” reasoned Sukhwinder.
“Though the logic given by Mahindra was the same as what we have given,” he added.
JCT have highlighted the lack of eyeballs and the unprofessional environment in which the league has been run as some of the factors for their decision to end their association with competitive football.
“I am with my management in their decision and the reasons they have given. If you play in grounds like that in Gurgaon which are nothing more than a paddy field, how can you run the league?” questioned the former India coach.
“Punjab football will now become like Delhi,” he mentioned.
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