The Hindu : Sport / Football : Elite league from Nov. 19

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Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
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Elite league from Nov. 19

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The much-awaited Delhi City Elite league will kick off from November 19, thanks to the pressure from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA).

The DSA has had its own constraints, lack of quality grounds the biggest worry, but the association promises to do a good job. “We have to start the league by all means. It will be the most prestigious event for us and we have to fulfil the commitment made to the AFC,” DSA president Subhash Chopra said.

The league in Delhi is a year behind the original schedule. “We didn’t have grounds,” Mr. Chopra said.

Dwindling support from the clubs was a stumbling block the DSA failed to foresee and overcome and the problem remains with some of the clubs sceptical about the norm being followed to identify the teams that will participate.

According to DSA Secretary N.K. Bhatia, the AFC has eased some of the demands. “The AFC has understood the realities of Delhi football and have made some concessions. We had some unforeseen problems earlier but we have managed some adjustments,” said Mr. Bhatia even as club officials attended a seminar organised by the AFC here on Tuesday to apprise them of the importance of the league and its launch.

The committee, formed to run the league, faced resistance from some powerful officials of the DSA, who were unhappy at being deprived of the responsibility. “DSA has to ensure now the league takes place and no one will play spoilsport. We will do our best to make it a huge success,” asserted Umesh Sood, former DSA president and working chairman of the league.

Ten teams

Ten teams from the following will participate in the league — Hindustan Club, New Delhi Heroes, City Club, Shastri Club, Simla Youngs, Ehbab Club, Indian Nationals, Tarun Sangha, Mughals Club, Shahdara Club and Indian Air Force.

The AFC had asked the AIFF to pick the teams on the basis of their past records and criteria like playing ability and management of the club. Three prominent club — Delhi Police, Youngmen and Raisina — have learnt to have declined to participate for various reasons.

The response to the league has been varied. Shastri Club secretary M.M. Sultan welcomed the venture with a note of caution. “The idea is very good and will do good to the game in Delhi but some of the demands of the AFC are exacting.

“One of the criteria is that a club should have its own training ground. ven the DSA doesn’t have a ground of its own.”

The City Elite League will be conducted at various groundswith the DSA hopeful of conducting matches at the Ambedkar Stadium from December 1. The venue has been booked by a Nagaland organisation. Tarun Sangha Secretary Bibhas Maity supported Mr. Sultan’s views. “Without a sponsor, it is tough to run a club. We don’t have grounds to practice either. The league will increase the competitive flavour but there is need for better organisation,” said Mr. Maity.

Mr. Bhatia assured the clubs could gain financial assistance from the AFC next year.

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