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.