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The Indian FA Must Ensure Proper Organisation Of Age Group Tournaments - Indian Skipper Bhaichung Bhutia
Please pay attention to what the Indian skipper has to say...
24-Nov-2009 3:40:38 PM
The
Mir Iqbal Sub Junior Nationals’ south-west qualifiers in Mumbai has drawn a lot
of attention over the last few days for the lack of proper facilities provided
to the younger generation of football players.
The organisation for the first three to four days was far from what was expected as the teams had to stay in unhygienic conditions of Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex and weren’t even provided with the essentials of a bedsheet, mattresses and much more. The teams were made to travel in milk vans in the middle of the night in what was the rock bottom of organisation. As many as 60 boys were put up in a single room with two toilets, with one of them not in a usable condition.
Having endured a torrid time at the national camps earlier especially at the SAI complex, Bhaichung had written about the same after the Nehru Cup in the official website of the Football Players Of India (FPAI).
“I still remember the pain one felt when one was called up for the National Camp. We were given train fare and sometimes travelled without any reservation. We had horrible lodging facilities at the SAI Complex in Bangalore. We were 4 or 5 guys in a dorm, the common bathrooms and toilets were filthy, we had to stand in line for our meals and meat pieces were strictly counted!
“Hot water showers were a luxury, air conditioning was too far away to imagine, fans were louder than the trains that ran nearby and mosquitoes brought their best music to your ears. You just had to wonder if it was worth it playing for India. A few players didn’t think it was and stayed away. Being a junior player I had no choice but to carry on. I just waited for the camps to get over so that I could return to my club,” the Sikkimese Sniper wrote.
The coaches of the U-14 teams present at the south-west qualifiers of the sub-junior nationals were concerned whether any of their boys would ever be interested in playing the game following the disastrous treatment meted out and felt that parents from the middle and affluent class would think twice before sending their kids for such tournaments.
“I have read about this issue over the last few days. What has happened is bad. We must realise that these children are our future. The AIFF has to ensure proper organisation of such tournaments,” said the East Bengal striker.
One hopes that the people concerned have heard or read this.
Rahul Bali.
The organisation for the first three to four days was far from what was expected as the teams had to stay in unhygienic conditions of Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex and weren’t even provided with the essentials of a bedsheet, mattresses and much more. The teams were made to travel in milk vans in the middle of the night in what was the rock bottom of organisation. As many as 60 boys were put up in a single room with two toilets, with one of them not in a usable condition.
Having endured a torrid time at the national camps earlier especially at the SAI complex, Bhaichung had written about the same after the Nehru Cup in the official website of the Football Players Of India (FPAI).
“I still remember the pain one felt when one was called up for the National Camp. We were given train fare and sometimes travelled without any reservation. We had horrible lodging facilities at the SAI Complex in Bangalore. We were 4 or 5 guys in a dorm, the common bathrooms and toilets were filthy, we had to stand in line for our meals and meat pieces were strictly counted!
“Hot water showers were a luxury, air conditioning was too far away to imagine, fans were louder than the trains that ran nearby and mosquitoes brought their best music to your ears. You just had to wonder if it was worth it playing for India. A few players didn’t think it was and stayed away. Being a junior player I had no choice but to carry on. I just waited for the camps to get over so that I could return to my club,” the Sikkimese Sniper wrote.
The coaches of the U-14 teams present at the south-west qualifiers of the sub-junior nationals were concerned whether any of their boys would ever be interested in playing the game following the disastrous treatment meted out and felt that parents from the middle and affluent class would think twice before sending their kids for such tournaments.
“I have read about this issue over the last few days. What has happened is bad. We must realise that these children are our future. The AIFF has to ensure proper organisation of such tournaments,” said the East Bengal striker.
One hopes that the people concerned have heard or read this.
Rahul Bali.
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