Budding footballers made to pay for travel

Deepankar Sharda 
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 16

In a bizarre move, the Chandigarh Football Association (CFA) has asked a few members of its junior girls’ team to pay for the return tickets of the entire squad, including the officials, before heading for the AIFF Junior Girls Football Championship to be held in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, from April 20. 

A total of 20 players have been selected for the tournament. “Earlier, the officials told us to pay nearly Rs 2,000 (per head) to reserve the return tickets of our wards for a train journey. However, a day later, we were asked to pay Rs 4,600. The reservation is from Mumbai to Delhi. There is still no clue about how our wards will reach the city from the Capital,” said a parent of one of the team members. 

The amount mentioned is against the booking of a ticket in AC-3 tier.

‘No extra money charged’

The claim was though negated by CFA president KP Singh. “No extra money will be taken from the parents. The association will bear the expenses of four poor girls in the squad and the officials.” 

KP Singh though mentioned that they were not able to get the return tickets booked for the desired date and the organisers — All India Football Federation (AIFF) — would not foot the bill for their overstay.  

“I cannot send these girls without reservation. It’s our duty to provide them a safe environment. My team will either go on reserved seats or will be dropped from the tournament even though it will result in a penalty,” said KP Singh. “We are getting the (return) tickets, but in Tatkal and that too with a delay of two days. The AIFF will not pay for our overstay,” said Singh. 

He claimed that during the Khelo India Games, he had paid for the tickets of some of the players from his own pocket and would do the same this time around. “I will pay for the officials and other four players.” 

“We never told the parents to arrange for the tickets, they are doing it on their own,” the president added. 

When asked about the journey from Delhi to Chandigarh, Singh said: “I will do something...I won’t leave the players in lurch.” Late in the evening, one of the CFA officials confirmed that the team has got the reservation up to Ambala. 

Cash trail

Meanwhile, a WhatsApp chat between the parents and the CFA officials — the details of which are with the reporter — belie KP Sing’s claims.   

“This figure (Rs 4,600) has created a bit of confusion. We are booking 23 tickets in total (20 players and 3 coaches) which is costing us 23@ 2,800 = Rs 64,400 in total. The amount was divided in 14 families, which come as Rs 4,600 per family,” a parent of one the participants, who had volunteered for booking the tickets, replied to a Whatsapp message.

A few minutes later he mentioned: “But not now after some calls, we have decided that let’s make this total amount as an open contribution instead of charging Rs 4,600 to 14 members.”

“One can contribute to his/her own sweet will-no compulsion from anyone or federation. Contributions should be made by April 17 (morning) by cash in an envelope with the player’s name on it. Once can deposit/transfer the amount in my company’s account as below,” the parent added a few minutes later.  

Earlier, one of the CFA officials had posted: “Please note, the person who is struggling for team reservation is one of the parents. Please confirm at the earliest, so that reservation can be done...limited seats are left.”

Holympics Sports Fest from May 4

Mohali: The two-day Holympics Sports Fest will be held here from May 4. During the fest participants will compete in mud soccer, mud volleyball, tennis ball cricket and kite flying. The event is being organised by SPORTSAGA in association with Marbella Grand, SRG Group and Chandigarh Football Association. The interested teams need to submit their entries before April 26.