Pal alleges of ‘betting’ in BSL; Shocked Shrachi Sports asks how ‘law of land’ can be violated?
Sudeep Pakrashi: Sourav Pal, one of the IFA vice-presidents, has again been accused of ‘betting’ in the ongoing Bengal Super League (BSL). The key reason behind his allegation is the presence of Dafa News, which runs online betting operations as one of Asia’s leading betting companies. Pal, when asked to clarify his allegations, commented, “Dafa News is directly linked with betting, and as they are one of the brands in the ongoing BSL, match-fixing in the League is taking place.” Pal cited another example, adding, “Is it not ridiculous that after each and every League match, a penalty shoot-out takes place? Why? What is its purpose? Everything related to match-fixing!” The IFA vice-president added, “Swarup Biswas, also the vice-president, and I have both submitted protest letters to the IFA in its last Finance-Committee meeting as well as in the Governing-Body meeting, raising voices against Dafa’s presence in the League. Even Arup Biswas, the state’s last sports minister, asserted that BSL will not get the stadiums and grounds for the matches if Dafa is there.” However, Tomal Ghosal, Chairman, Shrachi Sports, when contacted for his reaction, told Parallel Sports, “First of all, betting is banned in India. So, how can the ‘law of land’ be violated? Then how does the question of match-fixing come? Secondly, the penalty shoot-out, which is being held after the end of each match, has been developed as purely a separate competition to attract viewers. It is not at all related to the results of respective matches. Thirdly, Dafa’s presence is not only here in this League, India’s one of the premier sports competitions, but Hockey India League (HIL) also has Dafa as one of its brands! It was also in the recently-concluded Kerala Pro-League.” Ghosal added, “We are upset with the allegations. Do these people who are making false allegations know that how many young footballers, debutant in the BSL, have drawn attention of the country’s several leading coaches and scouts? Do these people know that how many ISL and I-League clubs have shown curiousness on the emerging talents of BSL already? I am sure IFA is also shocked at the allegations. Isn’t it true that BSL has created the platform for those who were not at all getting the desired exposure to show their mettle?”
Howrah-Hooghly Warriors earn convincing victory against FC Mednipur
Howrah-Hooghly Warriors, in their debut match in the inaugural Bengal Super League (BSL) trounced FC Mednipur 3-1 at the Howrah Shailen Manna Stadium on Tuesday. The team were trailing by a goal in the first half. Sudip Kumar scored for FC Mednipur. Howrah-Hooghly Warriors, guided by Jose Ramerez Bareto bounced back after the break. Paolo Cezar struck twice for the winners while Koustav Dutta scored one.
North 24 Parganas start their campaign in style; Sundarban Bengal Auto FC win too
North 24 Parganas started their campaign IN THE inaugural Bengal Super League (BSL), trouncing Copa Tigers Birbhum 4-0 at Naihati Stadium on Monday. Tanmoy Ghosh, Mrimoy Mahapatra, and Kuntal Pakhihara. Coach of North 24 Parganas Gautam Ghosh said in his post-match media briefings, “The boys did not get much time for preparation. Additionally, several players who played today were newcomers. So, considering the perspective, I am satisfied with their performance.” When asked whether BSL would contribute to the development of football in Bengal, Ghosh, the head of IFA’s youth development program, added, “Time will reply to the question ultimately. But I can say, the players are getting more game-time with the introduction of this League, which is expected to help them.” In another match, Sundarban Bengal Auto FC earned full points in their opening match of the League, edging past Burdwan Blasters by 2-1 at Bolpur Stadium on Monday. Richmond and Aqueeb struck for the winners. Sundarban Bengal Auto FC Chief coach Mehtab Hussain lamented the poor ground conditions at the venue. “The ground was hard, had an uneven bounce. It was difficult for the boys to exhibit ‘good football’. Still, I am happy with three points,” said Mehtab. Significantly, BSL has introduced six-referee posting for a match where two referees are posted beside the two goalposts. Their job will be to detect ‘penalty-area’ movements and any dispute in the penalty area.
Howrah-Hooghly Warriors FC sets its eyes on playing in the CFL and then in the elite I-League
Sudeep Pakrashi: Howrah-Hooghly Warriors FC, one of the debutants in the forthcoming Bengal Super League (BSL), are unlikely to be content satisfied only through participating in the BSL. Rather, the franchise team have set eyes on playing in the IFA-organised CFL and also a qualification for the elite I-League within the next couple of years! Deep Dey, the General Manager of the club, when asked about their plans for the future, revealed, “Our vision is to earn qualification for the elite I-League within the next four to five years, starting from the I-League Third Division. Not only that, our aim will be to build-up a team for the I-League consisting of 90 per cent footballers from the Howrah-Hooghly area.” Simultaneously, he divulged, “Initiatives have been taken to get affiliation from the IFA as well as Howrah DSA to field our team in the CFL First Division. We will also get affiliation from the Howrah DSA so that our boys can play in the district competitions.” The franchise, which has roped in Jose Ramirez Bareto as the team’s chief coach, is also in the process of finding land in the Hooghly area to build a residential football school in future. “Our project will have a non-residential coaching program also initially unless the needed infrastructure for the residential project gets developed.” The team, which has already registered 25 footballers, is likely to rope in two more foreigners, out of whom one is expected to come from Brazil, and the other foreign footballer who participated in the Kerala Super League. The team have been training under Barreto and assistant coaches Suman Dutta and Sanjay Palandar for the past month. The franchise has signed Brazilian Paulo Cezar as its first foreign player. Howrah-Hooghly Warriors will start their campaign, playing a home match at Howrah Shailen Manna stadium against FC Medinipur on 16th December.
Sundarban Bengal Auto FC: Unavailability of ground causes delay in preparation: Local talents impress Mehtab and Asim
MD Nijam Uddin Laskar is a successful businessman based in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas. Out of passion for football, Laskar used to make investments in building up teams for the ‘masala matches’ which used to be played around the districts. The 40-year-old businessman expresses his gratitude to former India international Mehtab Hossain for insisting on his joining the forthcoming Bengal Super League (BSL) as one of the franchise owners. So, Nizam Uddin and a couple of his friends initiated the foundation of a private limited company, Bengal Sports & Entertainment. Under the company’s banner, Sundarban Bengal Auto FC has been formed. The franchise has already registered 33 footballers. Among them, four foreigners will be recruited. One Ghanaian defender, Solomon, has already joined the team. Negotiations are on with two Brazilian and a Senegalese footballer. But Nizam revealed, “We were late in the team-building process. That is why we were getting a proper training ground, and we were even in a dilemma about selecting our home match in the BSL. We got a training ground finally near Baruipur, but that was a nine-sided ground and not up to the mark.” Chief coach Mehtab Hossain also had the same opinion as he commented, “We do not have a proper ground for training. Initiatives are underway to conduct a one-week preparatory camp on a better ground around in Kolkata before the League.” Still, he made noticeable appreciations for the local talents, already roped in for the franchise. “Around 10 local footballers have been recruited. I observed them for only a couple of days. But they are very promising. Especially, there is one boy named Sahil. He looked highly talented considering the basics of the game. If these boys are provided proper directions and are nurtured mentally, then they will grow a lot.” Return of another former India international, Asim Biswas, to the team as a mentor is also a significant incident. The 45-year-old striker, once called one of the most gifted footballers of Bengal, also had praise for the local talents, who joined the franchise. “The boys need to be nurtured properly, especially in the mental part. They look strong in the basics of the game, and it should be our advantage,” commented Asim. When asked about the team’s performance in the opening year, both Mehtab and Asim expressed the same motive, commenting, “Our aim will be to produce quality football. We cannot expect results from the boys in the opening season after short-term preparation.” Sundarban Auto Bengal FC will play their home match at Caning Stadium, which has a capacity of around 10 thousand spectators. Nizam also revealed that they have plans to develop memberships for the club through branding. “The investment in total will go nearly Rs 2.5 Crores. So, our aim is to earn sponsorships also through branding so that we can also make profits in the second season of the League,” added Nizam.
Sundarban Auto Bengal FC: Team lack quality ground for preparation: Mehtab and Asim impressed by local talents
Mohammed Nizamuddin Laskar is a successful businessman based in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas. Out of passion for football, Laskar used to make investments in building up teams for the ‘masala matches’ which used to be played around the districts. The 40-year-old businessman expresses his gratitude to former India international Mehtab Hossain for insisting on his joining the forthcoming Bengal Super League (BSL) as one of the franchise owners. So, Nizamuddin and a couple of his friends initiated the foundation of a private limited company, Bengal Sports & Entertainment. Under the company’s banner, Sundarban Auto Bengal FC has been formed. The franchise has already registered 33 footballers. Among them, four foreigners will be recruited. One Ghanaian defender, Solomon, has already joined the team. Negotiations are on with two Brazilian and a Senegalese footballer. But Nizam revealed, “We were late in the team-building process. That is why we were getting a proper training ground, and we were even in a dilemma about selecting our home match in the BSL. We got a training ground finally near Baruipur, but that was a nine-sided ground and not up to the mark.” Chief coach Mehtab Hossain also had the same opinion as he commented, “We do not have a proper ground for training. Initiatives are underway to conduct a one-week preparatory camp on a better ground around in Kolkata before the League.” Still, he made noticeable appreciations for the local talents, already roped in for the franchise. “Around 10 local footballers have been recruited. I observed them for only a couple of days. But they are very promising. Especially, there is one boy named Sahil. He looked highly talented considering the basics of the game. If these boys are provided proper directions and are nurtured mentally, then they will grow a lot.” Return of another former India international, Asim Biswas, to the team as a mentor is also a significant incident. The 45-year-old striker, once called one of the most gifted footballers of Bengal, also had praise for the local talents, who joined the franchise. “The boys need to be nurtured properly, especially in the mental part. They look strong in the basics of the game, and it should be our advantage,” commented Asim. When asked about the team’s performance in the opening year, both Mehtab and Asim expressed the same motive, commenting, “Our aim will be to produce quality football. We cannot expect results from the boys in the opening season after short-term preparation.” Sundarban Auto Bengal FC will play their home match at Caning Stadium, which has a capacity of around 10 thousand spectators. Nizam also revealed that they have plans to develop memberships for the club through branding. “The investment in total will go nearly Rs 2.5 Crores. So, our aim is to earn sponsorships also through branding so that we can also make profits in the second season of the League,” added Nizam.
