The Hindu : Sport / Football : Venkatesh is player of the year

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

Sport

Sport - Football

Venkatesh is player of the year

NEW DELHI, DEC. 28. S. Venkatesh, the outstanding Indian team midfielder from Mahindra United, has been chosen as the `player of the year' by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Announcing this at the end of the annual general body meeting of the federation, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, re-elected for another four-year term as the AIFF president, said that the ninth edition of the National Football League would commence with a match between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal at Kolkota on January 12.

The inaugural match, for which the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, had been invited, as well as the Mohun Bagan-Dempo match in Goa would be dedicated to the memory of Cristiano Junior and the proceeds from these matches would go to the fund in his.

The Executive Committee would meet at Kolkata on January 11 to decide, among other things, the policy on foreign players.

Doctors mandatory

Asked about the need to strengthen medical facilities at grounds following the experience at Bangalore in the aftermath of Junior's death, Mr. Dasmunsi said that it would be mandatory for the NFL teams to have a doctor in their ranks. The host associations were being advised to make arrangements for medical facilities at the ground apart from tying up with the nearest hospital for ambulance and emergency support.

Junior's autopsy report had been sent to FIFA (international football federation) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Mr. Dasmunsi said. He added that the FIFA Medical Committee had sought a scan of the brain and spine and those reports had also been sent.

The Executive Committee confirmed the appointment of Mr. Albert Colaco as the General Secretary of the federation. He would also be the NFL Chairman. Under the amended constitution, the General Secretary's post has been made a paid one.

Wg. Cdr. M. Baladitya of the Services Sports Control Board was inducted as a member of the Executive. Manipur association will nominate a woman representative to serve on the Executive.

The newly-elected executive committee: president: Mr. P.R. Dasmunsi; vice-presidents: Messrs Praful Patel (West Zone) Sanjay Singh (North), C.R. Visswanathan (South), Atuo Mezhur (North East) and Subrata Dutta (East); Treasurer: Mr. Shivanand Salgaocar; Members: Messrs Hardev Jadeja and S.R. Dev (West), S. Nasir Ali and Inder Singh (North), A.R. Khaleel and K.M.I. Mather (South), B. Diengdo and Ankur Dutta (North East) and Ejaz Hussain and Tempo Bhutia (East).

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