Kolkata : The much awaited residential academy of Kolkata football giants East Bengal started it’s journey amidst controversy on Saturday .The finance department of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation have raised an objection that the BA-CA ground have not been given to anyone on rent . While East Bengal club have refuted the charges claiming they have already paid an amount of Rs 5 lakh for using the ground . According to Debabrata Sarkar ,” I think there is some miscommunication ,as we have already paid an amount of Rs 5 lakh for using the BA-CA ground .”
East Bengal Football Academy will nurture talents scouted from all over the country . The academy was inaugurated today in the presence of a galaxy of stars who donned the Red and Gold jersey at the BA-CA ground . Ex footballer Manoranjan Bhattacharya performed a traditional ritual , while another former Red & Gold footballer Arun Ghosh lit the lamp . Amongst the other dignitaries who graced the occasion were former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia , Kuljit Singh , Bruno Coutinho along with Bhaskar Ganguly and AIFF senior vice president Subrata Dutta.
Former technical director of Indian football team Arun Ghosh welcomed the initiative from the club officials “ It’s good to have a residential academy like the one East Bengal have here . But the actual challenge will start from now as we have seen many other football academies in the country closing down ”
Indian football’s pin up boy Bhaichung Bhutia stressed on the importance of having a professional approach towards the running of the academy ,“ I wish the club takes a professional approach . It will be difficult to start with , but I wish the academy develops itself with the passage of time .”
Senior vice president of AIFF stressed on the importance of “ Catch them young ” . “ I feel this is a great initative from the East Bengal officials as the academy can be the breeding ground for many excellent talents all over the country .”
East Bengal fans and supporters will always remember former Salgaocar footballer Bruno Coutinho who silenced a packed Salt Lake stadium with his stunning freekick in the final to help the Goan club win the Federation Cup defeating East Bengal in 1997 . Bruno , who came all the way from Goa to be present on the occasion expressed his willingness to be involved with the academy “ I would like to be associated with the academy if I am given an offer . ” He also stressed on the importance of having boys from different age groups .
Kuljit Singh , who donned the East Bengal jersey for a long time , have his own academy in Punjab . He felt “ It is a positive move from the club as they can channelize the talents to play for the senior team in future ”
Initially the academy will have 11 boys to start with under the coaching of Ranjan Chowdhury . In the evening there will a function at the club tent where the founder members will be felicitated . The groundsmen will be given blankets .