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MUMBAI: Frustrated over the slow pace of progress in terms
of improvement in the I-League’s functioning and wanting
to improve how football is managed in the country, representatives
of Indian football clubs met over the weekend in Goa and formed
a body called the 'I-League Professional Football Clubs Association'.
The body proposed that the association should be registered
under the society's Act 1960 by 30 June. One issue that was
discussed was about the promise of a revised I-League structure
made by IMG Reliance, which has not happened despite the deadline
of 20 April having gone by.
The clubs were also unhappy with the circulation of the calendar
for the upcoming season without their views being considered.
"The
clubs have fulfilled all criteria barring one, by not signing
the National Club Licensing but the member association have
not fulfilled any criteria. What we are asking for is not
unrealistic - every good league in the world is a separate
entity in which the clubs are the stake holders. We want to
improve the standard of football in India and we are ready
to do everything from our end as well," said the general
secretary Chirag Tanna.
The
managing committee will have all the 13 clubs. The office
bearers are President: Raj Gomes; VP Debashish Dutta, VP SR
Dasgupta, VP Armando Colaco; General Secretary: Tanna and
Treasurer Victor Fernandes.
Tanna
added, "We are trying to get together and make the I-League
a profitable venture but the biggest aim is to get Indian
I-League clubs to play in the Asian Champions League. There
has been some communicated in the past about I-League clubs
not submitting certain documentation to the AIFF. However,
that has been done."
The
clubs owners and representatives recognise the fact that they
need to improve but there have to be certain commitments wherein
the clubs can go out to earn in return.
"This
is why we have not yet signed the National Club Licensing,"
said Tanna.
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