SPORTS REPORTER
JAMMU: In a surprising move, ignoring everyone, the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) has planned to hold the North Zone cluster of the Senior National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at GGM Science College Ground, here in the first week of February.
Virtually ‘hijacking’ the whole event, as if the game belongs to certain individuals, the top officials of the association, kept things close to their chest right from holding selection of the State team to deciding on the venue.
Even the higher-ups of the State Sports Council, the organisation which has to fund and get ready the needed infrastructure, has not been involved in decision making what to talk of those holding association office in Jammu Province.
With important District Football Association (DFA) Jammu already lying defunct because of infighting, the treasurer of the JKFA, who belongs to Jammu, has been made a victim of ignorance.
Since, holding of event in Jammu was decided long back, the Association President and General Secretary kept it as a ‘top secret’.
“I’m talking from New Delhi today and have to move to Chandigarh tomorrow for personal reasons, so I have little knowledge about the dates and schedule of the North Zone meet being held in Jammu,” said Vice President of JKFA, Surinder Singh Bunty when contacted on telephone.
Another Vice President of JKFA from Jammu, Dr Nirmolak Singh too had little knowledge about happenings in JKFA. “I have just landed in Jammu from Shilong where I had gone for test event for SAF Games. However, I’m aware of an event being held in Jammu but could not know much about its preparations,” said Dr Nirmolak.
It really surprised this reporter when Secretary of the State Sports Council, Jawaid Shah, on being approached, expressed his inability to answer certain queries with regard to the national event. To tell visiting reporter about final dates and venue that too without divulging the details of budgetary allocations, the Secretary said, “Let me check details”. He then rang up the Joint Secretary (Kashmir), Zamir Thakur, who happens to be President of the JKFA, to seek the details.
Even the Joint Secretary (Jammu), Shiv Kumar Sharma was totally unaware of the event two days back. However, on being contacted today, he said, “Zamir Sahib was there in Jammu yesterday and I have been told that a meeting has been fixed for 27th January in connection with Santosh Trophy”.
Taking advantage of JKFA Head Office being in Kashmir (Srinagar), the JKFA organised trials in Valley only and presently a coaching camp is also being held there only. “But as per the norms, the host team must attend the coaching camp at a place where the competition is going to be held so as to become familiar to the prevailing conditions,” said a veteran football player pleading anonymity.
