HYDERABAD: The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) is now saddled with a peculiar problem. The Fateh Maidan Club (FMC) is after it for a payment of Rs. 10 lakh dues accumulated by a senior official, who reportedly entertained his friends and followers for one year with food items in the club.

Taken aback by the FMC insistence, the SAAP top brass has bluntly refused to pay and instead asked the club to collect the money from the official concerned.

For the cash-strapped organisation, which even told the Sports Associations to host all the coaching camps in the city to reduce financial burden ahead of the National Games, this has come like a bolt from the blue.

`Smart route'

The senior official is believed to have chosen the smart route to get the food orders cleared by forwarding them through the SAAP VC & MD's peshi without the latter's knowledge.

As a matter of courtesy, the FMC obliged the orders.

While athletes struggle to get a hike in their diet allowances even when they train for international competitions, the SAAP officials appear to be keen to ensure that their `well-wishers' are given sumptuous lunches.

The immediate fall-out of the Rs. 10 lakh dues is that SAAP officials no more enjoy the signing of the FMC coupon books.

"We strongly objected to this huge bill and we told him clearly that he has to pay the bill," says another senior official.

Then, there is another side of finances, which put the SAAP in a fix.

The agency, which promised to pay Rs.1 crore by organising the Chief Minister's Cup by way of conducting film stars cricket match paid only Rs. 25 lakhs. And it collected Rs. 45 lakh towards the expenses. Consequently, the SAAP is now running from pillar to post to clear off all the dues.

For instance, ITC Group of Hotels is after SAAP for payment of Rs. 5 lakhs for hosting film stars who participated in match for the Chief Minister's Cup.

"We were told by the agency that they ran into losses and are not in a position to pay Rs.1 crore as promised," says P. Chinnappa Reddy, Technical Advisor to State Government (Sports).

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