By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Denying media rumours that Mohammedan Sporting Club is shutting shop, the 123-year-old club has declared that it just has decided to abstain from Durand Club this year due to severe financial crunch and not close down.
At a time when a brand new football tournament ‘Indian Super League (ISL)’ is launched, the news of reported closure of the heritage club had stunned hundreds and thousands of football fans across the country.
President of Mohammedan Sporting Club and MP Sultan Ahmed
One of India’s most prestigious football clubs, it was founded originally as ‘Jubilee Club’ in 1887 under the leadership of Nawab Aminul Islam. Its name was then changed to ‘Crescent Club’, which was again changed to ‘Hamidia Club’. It was in 1891 that this came to be known as the ‘Mohammedan Sporting Club’.
A special meeting of the managing committee of the Mohammedan Sporting Club on Saturday decided that due to heavy financial crisis, the club will not participate in the Durand Club this year. Incidentally, Mohammedans were the Durand Cup champions last year.
The Club also decided to release all its players for this year and said it will not arrange any practice at the club grounds. Club president and Trinamool Congress MP Sultan Ahmed blamed the media for creating misleading rumors about the club’s original decision.
“There is no such decision by the club management meeting about closing down the 123-years-old heritage club. Unfortunately, most of the media broadcast our decision in a wrong manner, in fact, media distorted the decision,” Sultan Ahmed told TCN, adding, “The wrong message sent by media has upset scores of of Mohamedan Sporting Club fans throughout the country.”
Sultan did agree that Mohamedan Sporting club was running through a financial problem. “It is a fact that last year champions will not participated this year in Durand Cup. This club is not run by the money of Chit Funds. So, due to poor financial conditions, our club is not going to participate in the Durand cup tournament.”
Pointing out that several clubs in Kolkata got sponsors but they also changed the club’s name by adding the sponsors’ name before the clubs’ name, he said: “According to our Club’s law, no such attempt can be made, no other name can be added before the Mohamedan club’s name. Besides, we never allow sponsors such as a liquor company.”
He further blamed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for favouritism, “which was witnessed during the main section of I-League this year. So we will now participate in 2015 in second division.”
Mohammedan’s coach Alok Mukherjee is upset with the club management’s decision. “I could not believe that Mohammedan will not participate in any football tournament in this year, which is very unfortunate.”
AIFF vice president and president of IFA Subrata Dutta said, “If Mohammedan needs sponsors, we will try our best for them to manage a sponsor to maintain the club cost.”
Ex-footballer and MP Prasun Mukherjee said, “Long years ago, I played for Mohammedan Sporting Club. We cannot let the club close any way. I talked to the Club president Sultan Ahmed and assured him about bringing a good sponsor.”