Health or selection , how should the coin toss? The story of Brendon Fernandes.....

Sometimes, it is just not the hand that rocks the cradle that rules the world. It is the baby in the cot who does the musings unaware of what is ruling the head of the  hand that sometimes even thinks of pulling the rug under the carpet. Brendon Fernandes is one such person. He is not a baby anymore. But at 19, he has already traversed paths that most Indian footballers have not. And, he is raring to go further- to a point the sport has not yet discovered.

Brendon shot into the limelight as a footballer many monsoons ago. He has played for India in all age groups right  as a under- 13 to  19. He recently participated in the camp to select the Indian under- 23 team for the Asia Cup but, failed to make it. Excuses flew thick and fast. The truth was- a niggling hip  injury problem disabled him to perform to his potential.

Brendon starred for India during the Lusofonia games. He was injured then and has been injured ever since.” I even went to Scotland for a team selection but the injury did me no good. I failed in the selection.” Brendon’s injury  raises the question ,what happens to our future stars when injury predates them? Where do they go? Who mentors them ? Or , like many things in life, are they to be forgotten once the game is over?

“ There are ways of looking at it. If the injury took place during an AIFF camp it is the responsibility of AIFF. If the injury took place with a club it is the responsibility of the club. But most importantly , especially in a country like India , a player should see whether he is fit to join a camp or not. Many  a times they attend camps  with injuries  and actually end up harming themselves more . You cannot log your body more than it can take’” says Dr Rufino Monteiro , chairman of the Goa  Football Development Council (GFDC).

“Brendon is a known footballer but football is not cricket. The BCCI can afford to give their stars best treatment. But , the AIFF is not BCCI. It is not a rich organisation  and football or sports is yet to be looked at professionally in India. We still have to catch up with Europe. It will take time because it is achievable”, stated the GFDC chairman.

Brendon was selected to represent India at the Lusofonia games after his father Janju Fernandes signed an undertaking that his son  would not claim for his air fare reimbursements from South Africa.” I paid for my sons ticket from South Africa  where he was attending a camp. It was only after I gave an undertaking that he would not claim for his ticket that he was selected”, stated janju Fernandes. “ Now he is not being selected,” he stated fumingly.

“I was told that he was not selected because he was not playing for any club in the country. How can this be true’” he pondered. “ That was not the reason. I know from sources in the AIFF that he was not selected due to his performance on account of  his injury,” stated Savio  Messias presently with a technical committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Health is paramount. Especially for a player with the finesse that Brendon has. To over stretch should not be the outreach of such classy players. Like they say, a failure once can be a jumping stone to greater success!

Churchill file appeal;Decision on June 3:Sunando Dhar ; Two Churchill defenders, Raju and Sarin, join Salgaocar SC

Churchill Brothers Sports Club filed their appeal against being axed from the I League and given an option to take part in the second division on Wednesday. “ Yes, we received their appeal on Wednesday. The appeal has been filed with the Appeal panel. They will meet , discuss the matter and take a call on it ,” stated Sunando Dhar Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the I League to goalfest.

“United Sports and Rajnadeed are the other two teams who have also appealed. Their appeal too will be viewed through by the panel. Once that is done, a decision will be shortcoming,” added Sunando.

“The appeal committee will meet on June 3. The meeting will take place in the morning , most probably, and a decision is expected on the same day. The results will be out once this is over. We expect the matter to be put to rest by June 3 itself,” stated Mr. Dhar.

As Churchill Brothers Sports Club await the result of their appeal, many players (two in fact) have decided to jump ship and swim aborad other teams.”Defenders Raju and Sarin have decided to move to Salgaocar Sports Club. Salgaocar Sports Club stood third in the 2013-2014 I League under the tutelage of chief coach Derrick Perreira,” disclosed a source within the Churchill Brothers team to goalfest.

 Salgaocar Sports Club  has been scouting for midfielders and defenders this season. They have already signed in a midfield  player from Pune Football Club – Derricks previous club as coach- and Raju and Sarin are the next to sign on the dotted line for them.

“We will know the result of the Appeal committee meeting by June 3. I do not see any reason why there should be a delay. Once the meeting is over, the result will be conveyed immediately,” stated Sunando Dhar.

“It is obvious that Churchill Brothers Sports Club will wind up if they lose the appeal. They can start in the second division. That is better than winding up totally now and then trying to make a comeback. It will be more difficult to try and get into the I League later’”, stated a highly placed source from New Delhi.

“No doubt Churchill lack a corporate structure. But , that does not mean that they have been singled out for that. It is not that difficult to turn professional. Just hard work,” emphasised our source from New Delhi.

Which way heads will turn will be determined on June 3. It will be the day that may see Churchill brothers sing a swansong  for all that they did for football, over the last many  years.

With time running out, Churchill Bros players steady to jump boat?

The cat is amongst the pigeons.  With Friday May 30 being the last day for Churchill Brothers Sports Club to file an appeal against being axed from the I league, rumour mills are working over time that there is expected to be an exodus of Churchill Brothers players to other clubs. “ After having made the decision of axing Churchill Brothers on May 21, an official letter was sent to them on May 22. So , they have till this Friday to appeal. If they do not , they stand axed”, stated I League CEO , Sunando Dhar to goalfest.

“ The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has nothing to do with the players movement. They can be picked by other Clubs. There are rules and regulations. Churchill Brothers have a few days more” , stated AIFF general secretary Kaushal Das.

It may be stated here that Churchill Brothers SC patron , Churchill Alemao  had gone on record stating that he would have disbanded his club had his team been relegated to the second division  from the I League. They won their crucial match against Salgaocar and saved much face. However , the I league picked up cudgels against the team for not fulfilling some licensing criteria and they were axed along with three other teams.

Highly placed sources in the team informed that the morale of the players was down. “Many are looking at other pastures. The players have a future to look at to. So , what’s wrong,” asked our source. Some players in Churchill’s defense have already had parleys with some other Goan I League teams. “These players are going. It is just a matter of days before they sign on the dotted line,” admitted our source.

“Valanka Alemao is going to file an appeal. She has said so. When they do file an appeal, the matter goes on for three more weeks. It is then that we come to know  whether the appeal  is won or lost. So there is time. It is too early to say anything now”, stated Peter Vaz , proprietor of Sporting Clube de Goa.

“ Once the result is known , we are free to do what we want. If a player fits into our plan and he is available, we shall think of whether we should sign him or not. The signing of a player should benefit our team. If Churchill players are available , why should we or any other team not sign them?,” queries Peter Vaz.

Despite attempts, Churchill Brothers Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Valanka  Alemao  did not respond to phone calls. With the clock ticking , its not the question of whether time is running out. Rather , how much longer,  is a more apt perspective.

"Churchill Football Club did not adhere to some conditions required" Sunando Dhar , I League CEO

Times seems to be running out for Churchill Brothers Football Club and the three other teams axed from the I League. With just seven days given to file an appeal it now appears, that this time around, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) First Instance Body is not in a mood to take excuses lightly. It is time to move on for better pastures!

“Finance , administrative , personell and infrastructure are not just the four  AIFF licensing regulations. These four are just broad headings. There are forty two (a) criteria must for any clubs. There are also other b and c criteria’s. Churchill Brothers hasn’t got  all the 42 criteria’s”, stated Sunando Dhar , I League Chief Executive Officer(CEO) in an exclusive interview to Goalfest.

Dispelling fears that Churchill Brothers and the other teams have been axed to make  way for other teams , Dhar stated “ We are not inviting any clubs. We are bringing in clubs through the bidding process. These clubs are to fulfil additional criteria’s- to the ones already existing .The new clubs will have to invest in infrastructure and grass roots”

“Two parties have already picked up the bid documents. They cannot be named at the moment.”, stated Dhar.

The winners of the Federation get an opportunity to take part in the Asian Football Councils (AFC) Champions League. Churchill are the last year’s winners. “The AIFF took a decision last year that only licensed clubs will be sent to the AFC competitions. So, how can Churchill expect to go?” asks Sunando Dhar.

 “The licensing criteria began donkeys years ago. It started during the time of Alberto Colaco. Postponements were made. Everything has a limit , if we have to move forward.And, football has to “, stated a source from New Delhi.

“ The licensing criteria  was during my time but not in this format. The AFC revised the format in 2010-2011.”, stated Mr  Alberto Colaco.

Clubs like JCT had to shut shop because of the new regulations. Vasco Sports Club from Goa too had to change to a Private Ltd Company. JCT could not do so because there were hiccups in the transfer of funds.

No doubt , ample of time was given to clubs. “There have been instances where some clubs have got into financial irregularities. Some clubs resorted into doing fake contracts. Some Clubs did not pay – especially foreign players- what they were promised. Foreign players have actually approached the FIFA committees to settle their problems. This move was long overdue”, stated a senior AIFF functionary from Bengal , on  condition of anonymity.

There were times , when teams could enter the top flights of football by climbing the league steps tediously. No one could expect to play on the top level immediately. For that matter, no one could be relegate , without  being in the relegation zone . Definitely , things are changing now. Most of the times, change is met with dissent. This is one such time. It is too early to say –because of various factors- but this could be one right time for change. It could be the time, football was waiting for?

"Bhowmick was sacked", Mariano Dias

Subhash Bhowmick who led Churchill Bros to their first I League title in 2012-2013 was sacked by the club according to the clubs interim coach Mariano Dias.According to reports, Bhowmick has joined Mohun Bagan for the 2014-2015 season."He was asked to leave by the club management. I was in-charge of the team for the last three matches", stated Mariano Dias who at one point went on record to say that he prepared the team only for the AFC Cup.

"He was asked to leave because there were no performances", stated Mariano.

"I have not yet decided on my future with the club. My contract ends in May. I am also going to Japan to get my Pro License. It will be after my return that I will see what happens. There are no concrete proposals at this moment. It is too early to say anything", said Mariano when asked about his future with Churchill Bros.

Churchill Bros won the Federation Cup for the first time under Mariano. Infact , the team staved off relegation by defeating Salgaocar in their final and decisive match. Though many will argue against the referees decision to award Churchill Bros a crucial penalty."The penalty was doubtful.This happens in football.The penalty gave them (Churchill Bros ) a nice opportunity to score.", remarked Salgaocar coach Derrick Perreira.

The truth is that with the win against Salgaocar Sports Club, Churchill avoided relegation and have another year to once again re-establish their supremacy in the I League. With Bhowmick out and Mariano uncertain about his future many are waiting to see whether the team is going in for a major revamp this season.