Kolkata: Today marked the black day for Kolkata football . Due to a tussle between two lobbies and lack of financial transparency the Southern Samity players didn’t show up against Railways FC in a Calcutta Football League encounter today. There was a speculation that Southern won’t play against Railways and finally it has become true today. They were scheduled to face Railways FC at the East Bengal ground today from 2.45pm. Railways players were present at the East Bengal tent today but the Southern team management didn’t show up.
A tussle is going on between club president Ratan Dey and secretary Sourav Paul. According to the lobby of Sourav Paul, the club President have imbibed 50 lakh rupees from the club which they received from the State Government for the betterment of football. At the start of the League the club officials decided not to play this years tournament. But just ahead of the start of the league Southern Samity officials met with West Bengal’s Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and IFA Secretary Utpal Ganguly, where the Sports Minister urged the officials to participate in the League. They not only participated in the League but also played few matches too in the proceedings.
On being asked about the matter Southern Samity secretary Sourav Paul said,” We are really hurt that the team didn’t perticipate in today’s game. We are playing in the Second Division League since 2007 and we are a part of the Premier Division for last seven years. Our honourable Sports Minister Shri Aroop Biswas told us to give all the account details regarding the 50 lakh rupees which was given by the State Government for the betterment of football. He also suggested us to keep an amount of 30 lakh rupees in club’s bank account from where we should give the payment of the footballers. But our club President did nothing and the Cheques which were given to the footballers bounced and after that the footballers decided that they won’t take part further part in the League. We will go to the court to take further actions against him.”
Chief coach Hemanta Dora said,”Though we are all professionals but at the end of the day we all are footballers. We wanted to play in today’s match but if you won’t pay to the footballers how they would motivate themselves to play. The Prsident told us that he would pay the salaries of the footballers on Thursday, but when we saw that he is not keeping his word the footballers decided not to play against Railways FC.”
According to veteran footballer Dipankar Roy,”We have only received 10% of our salary in this ongoing season. And the cheques which we had received from the president were bounced. We have lost all our faith from the President.
Southern Samity President Ratan Dey denied all the alligations against him.”I had urged the footballers to play for the side against Railways FC. I told them that I would arrange their salary but unfortunately I failed to arrange the money. It is painful for me that the footballers didn’t play today’s game against the Railways. The other officials told me that they would also help me to arrange the salaries for the footballers, but unfortunately they have done nothing and now they are blaming me about all these.”
On being asked about how the 50 lakh rupees were spent, Ratan Dey added,”Everyone knows that it was spent to form the team during last season’s Second Division League.”
The Southern Samity President further added,”I have already made the payment to three foreigners and five Indian players. I had already said to the players that I can’t pay the full salary right now. I will pay them the money in three installments and it’s my belief that they will play for Southern Samity in the next match.”
Southern will face Tollygunge Agragami in their next Calcutta Football League game on September 7.