A clutch of Mohun Bagan players met on Monday at a city hotel and decided to boycott the Mohun Bagan Day celebrations on July 29. Subrata Bhattacharya, Prasun Banerjee, Sisir Ghosh, Prashanta Banerjee, Basudeb Mandal, Gautam Sarkar, Aloke Mukherjee, Krishnendu Roy, Atanu Bhattacharya, Bidesh Bose, Compton Dutta, Debasish Mukherjee, Mihir Bose, Subir Ghosh, Jagadish Ghosh, Dulal Biswas, Kesto Mitra, Manas Bhattacharya, Amit Bhadra, Samaresh Chowdhury were present to sign a document voicing their concern against the ill functioning of their former club by the current ruling group.

"There are quite a few reasons for this protest," said Subrata Bhattacharya.  "Firstly, the ruling faction doesn’t know how to treat ex players of Mohun Bagan. Secondly, officials never found us fit to be consulted on any club related issues. Thirdly, they have fascination for foreign coaches when there are several local coaches who have produced far better results."

Anjan Mitra, however, said, "It’s good that they are planning charity events.  If they are true blue Mohun Bagan fans, we respect their own way of celebrating the auspicious day.  As far as their grievances are concerned, we can always sit and sort out the matter across the table."

The football season in Kolkata has always been a high-voltage affair. The traditional rivalry between the two football clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal has been there for ages. Although the season is scheduled to start from the middle of August, the present scenario is in no way uneventful. All of a sudden, a group of disgruntled football players, of yesteryears, with questionable integrity, led by Subrata Bhattacharya have woken up from their slumber, ganged up together, and are crying themselves hoarse for what they claim to being continuously ignored by the Mohun Bagan Club administrative body. Members and the countless supporters of the Club will. however. not be unduly perturbed by this agitation.

The disgruntled ex-players feel that the Club is not functioning properly under the ruling group, that they are being continuously ignored and their services are not being utilized at all for the development in the Club within. All of a sudden, they have turned chauvinistically India and one of them with an eye for the coveted job, is agitating for replacing the Club’s present Moroccan coach, Karim Bencherifa and parking himself as Head Coach.

Mohun Bagan under A license holder Morrocan coach Karim Bencherifa, won the Kolkata Premier League, Federation Cup and the Super Cup and narrowly ending runners-up in the I-League.  Karim Bencharifa has done Bachelor of Sports from Morocco and also an A licence course in Morocco which qualifies him to coach top teams of Morocco as well as the national team of Morocco.  Morocco is presently ranked 55 in world and India is 147. At one point, Morocco even were in the 30s in FIFA world ranking.  When AFC went through his papers, they said that the Diploma from the University of Leipzig in Germany which Karim has done few years back is equivalent to AFC B license and so he will have to do only AFC A licence.

So has the officials done any wrong by recruiting this qualified coach from Morocco, when most importantly he has delivered? After the completion of a successful season of Mohun Bagan, when team has united for preseason training, instead of coming and cheering the players and attending practice sessions, these ex-players are targeting Karim unnecessarily and this might cause undue tension among the players and will keep coach in pressure.  Is this the duty of ex-players?

We should not forget that coach of India at present is a foreigner, Bob Houghton.  Then they should again question why there is a foreign coach in India when there are so many eligible ex Mohun Bagan players would could be coach of India.

A coach should be judged by his performance and not whether he is from India or outside.  Saying that Karim is a "foreign coach" is a racist statement by itself.

About ex-players, Subrata Bhattacharya has been the coach of East Bengal in recent past and at present is the coach of Chirag United.  How many ex players of Mohun Bagan have he taken as Manager or Assistant coach during his coaching stint in these two clubs? Few years back, when he became coach of Mohun Bagan, these present set of officials had decided to appoint Pradip Chowdhury and Compton Dutta as advisor of Subrata, so that he can function better.  Subrata at that time had said, "Even if President of India comes, I will not take anyone’s advice."

Prashanta Banerjee said, "I am an A license holder, why don’t Mohun Bagan take me as coach?"  They should remember that Mohun Bagan is the National Club of India and here coach will have to deliver result, which at present Karim is giving.  Few days back, asst. coach A licence holder Mridul Banerjee said, "It is not important whether after having A licence with me, I am working as assistant coach or not. I want to work, I want myself to be involved with football coaching. The new job which I have got this year has the name "coach" with it, that is enough for me, I don’t mind at all being assistant coach."

Mr. Banerjee also added, "Only doing A licence will not help, how the person performs in field is very important.  Whether he can deliver, what he has learnt, to the players is a very essential quality which is required. Plus officials should have confidence on the person. Last year East Bengal officials and this year Mohun Bagan officials found me suitable for this job and has selected me. I have lot of experience of coaching from lower division to higher division. I have been coach of Bengal in the past and also of Mohammedan Sporting where I did more or less okay job. Actually the main thing is not the degree, yes it is an essential requirement, but how you deliver and perform in field is most important. The performance should speak for you and not degree."  Unfortunately, few ex-players of Mohun Bagan doesn’t have this mentality.

What do these ex-players expect? From its onset in 1889, numerous players have played for Mohun Bagan.  They have played with glory and now have retired.  Mohun Bagan club is open for everybody, they can come, attend practice sessions, sit in the lawn, interact with members, and spend time in the club.  We have seen Pranab Ganguly, late Mangal Purakayastha and many others coming daily to club and interacting with members in evening.  It is not possible for officials to take advice from each and every ex-player; however, if they come and want to interact with officials and want to share their opinion, they are always welcome to do so in the National Club of India.

We have seen in recent past, Mohun Bagan officials donated Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 30,000 respectively to Ashok Chatterjee and Dipu Das respectively.  They even contributed a hefty amount to family of Sanjib Jana, who died before Fed cup final by falling from stands.

Even when we from www.mohunbaganclub.com contributed to his family, our coach Karim, whom these few ex players are targetting contacted us personally and contributed a significant amount and even after winning Fed Cup, he dedicated the trophy to all fans with special mention of Mr. Jana. During the penultimate round match of I league against Dempo, during the injury time when scoreline was 1-1, we have seen coach turning towards the spectators and asking them to cheer and eventually Mohun Bagan scored in the dying moments of injury time and won that match. This showed that Karim being a foreign coach is well connected with fans and even though he is here in Mohun Bagan on a professional assignment as a coach, his heart is with Mohun Bagan at present.

As an arm-twisting measure these footballers have decided to boycott the celebrations and evening dinner to be held in the Club lawn, on the 29th July, observed as Mohun Bagan Day. This day for the Club is synonymous to what 15th August is to every true Indian.  As usual, this coming 29th July, all supporter and members of Mohun Bagan club will come in numbers and enjoy the day and there will be many ex-players also present, many of whom will participate in an exhibition match.  Other than those 20 players, there are hundreds and thousands of ex-players who still feel proud to come to Mohun Bagan club on the auspicious day.

Incidentally, the relationship amongst the members of this group, during their playing days was less than cordial. Their coming together now is more of a marriage of convenience.  Few years back during Mohun Bagan day, Amit Bhadra was slapped by Subrata Bhattacharya in club tent.  Also we have an interview of Krishnendu Roy who after leaving Mohun Bagan blamed Subrata Bhattacharya for his departure.

Regarding honor, perhaps Mohun Bagan is the only club where there is an award called Mohun Bagan Ratna by which the club honors the ex-players on Mohun Bagan day.  Till now Sailen Manna, T. Aao, Late Shibdas Bhaduri, Goshto Pal, Chuni Goswami, Umapati Kumar, Dhiren Dey, Sattar has received the honors.  Then how come there is a question that ex-players don’t get respect in Mohun Bagan?

True Mohun Bagani, Sailen Manna said, "I am not well, but I will definitely try my level best to attend Mohun Bagan day.  Mohun Bagan has not won I league in many years, I wish Mohun Bagan win the league this year, that is my main wish right now, instead of participating with the ex-players."  Chuni Goswami, Satyajit Chatterjee, Shibaji Banerjee are among the many ex-players who did not attend the meeting along with the 20 ex-players.

 

It will be most welcome if these players come and attend Mohun Bagan day this year and celebrate it with the fans and later on discuss their grievance with the officials. General Secretary Anjan Mitra has already contacted and requested them to sit in a meeting which, however, unfortunately they have declined to do.

 

Today Players Status Committee of IFA slammed a fine of Rs. 2 Lakh on Snehasish Chakraborty, and after he pays the fine he will be a free player and can play in the club of his choice.

The committee had sent the original documents of East Bengal’s contract, which the player claims to have been forged to a handwriting expert. Dr. Rajani Kanta Das, former Director of Question Document Examination Branch of CID and presently works as a consultant for High Court and City Civil Court examined the documents and came to conclusion that they were all Snehasish’s signature and so Snehasish has been fined Rs. 2 lakh, Utpal Ganguly said in a press meet. However, in the contract it was written that East Bengal had paid Rs. 1 lakh to Snehasish, but later they denied that they did not pay anything to him. So, since there was no payment, the contract has been canceled and after paying the fine, he will be a free player and can play in any club of his choice.

The media protested against this decision today and asked why East Bengal was not fined for lying in the contract that they had paid Rs. 1 lakh to the player.

Mohun Bagan official Debasish Dutta said, "The decision was most unfortunate and we will give him full support. The whole meeting was a gotup one. Earlier in Baichung issue also they failed to take any decision against the guilty one, this time also they failed to do so."

When we contacted Snehasish, he seemed very upset with this decision and said that he will first see the papers and then will comment about it. However, we heard from a reliable source that he might pay the fine and sign for Mohun Bagan soon.

It is very unfortunate that IFA could not take any decision against East Bengal even after they have lied in the contract that they have paid Rs. 1 lakh to the player which they later denied.

Meanwhile, after 1 day rest, Mohun Bagan team will resume practice tomorrow, there will be two practice sessions tomorrow.

Mohun Bagan will likely play in All Airlines Gold Cup to be held in late August and will also held a residential camp in Kalimpong; however, the place might be changed to Durgapur due to problem going on in the hill area. Meanwhile, the Players Status Committee (PSC) of the Indian Football Association (IFA) will announce their verdict on the Snehashis Chakraborty-East Bengal dispute on Thursday. The committee decided to send the original documents of East Bengal’s contract, which the player claims to have been forged, with Snehasish Chakraborty to a handwriting expert.

 

 

Snehasish had earlier alleged that East Bengal had forged his signature on the contract papers in their bid to prevent him from playing for Mohun Bagan in the ensuing season.

Snehashis forwarded copy of his two contracts to the media. The first one is for the period 2007-’09 and the other from 2008-10. This means the player had been twice signed by the club for the 2008-’09 season. Snehashis also claimed that he had not received the signing amount of Rs 1 lakh as mentioned in the second contract.

 “I have maintained from the very beginning that, saving one, all other signatures in the second contract are not mine. I want it to be verified by a hand-writing expert. Moreover, I have not received any token amount. That itself invalidates the contract. They have deliberately put a stamp on the amount to create confusion,” he maintained.

 Given below is the training schedule of July and August 2009. There might be few changes in the schedule. A 9 day residential camp has been scheduled to be held in Kalimpong, but due to unrest situation there, it may be postponed to Durgapur. We will be updating the necessary changes as and when it is done. Mohun Bagan may participate in All Airlines Gold Cup scheduled to be start from August 22. Mohun Bagan might get direct semi final berth; however, nothing has been finalized yet.

 

 

 

 GIVEN BELOW IS THE CONTRACT PAPERS OF SNEHASISH CHAKRABORTY AND HIS OBJECTION AGAINST EAST BENGAL CLUB AND HAS DIRECTLY ALLEGED THEM OF FORGING HIS SIGNATURE WHICH IF PROVED RIGHT IS DEFINITELY A GRAVE OFFENSE. WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT HE GETS JUSTICE BY PLAYERS STATUS COMMITTEE WHICH WILL DECIDE ON HIS FATE ON THURSDAY. SNEHASISH HAD ALREADY SAID THAT HE WILL PREFER TO SIT IDLE FOR THIS YEAR RATHER THAN PLAYING FOR EAST BENGAL. HE HAS WISHED TO PLAY FOR MOHUN BAGAN IN THIS SEASON.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. That the player shall participate in all the tournaments (Domestic and International) and all exhibition matches in which the First Party shall participate.

11. That the player shall not participate in any tournament in India for and on behalf of any other Party/Association/Society, other than for the First Party unless the First Party allows him to play for any other team, with prior written consent.

12. That the player has to be aware about the practice venue as well as time and shall participate in eveyr practice session, as routined by the First Party’s Official coach appointed by the First Party.  The First Party will not be responsible to inform any playing member about the practice schedules. The Player shall be entitled to lunch/refreshments and other amenities, free of cost as provided by the First Party during such practice sessions.

13. That the Player shall join the team on the day fixed by the First Party for local/outstation tournaments/Exhibition matches in which the First Party shall Participate.

14. That Player shall have to attend any promotional programme to be organized either by the First Party or by the Sponsors associated to the First Party.

15. The Player declares that he has not signed or taken any money from any other First Party/or Institution to play for the season 2007-08 and 2008-09.

16. (a) The Player will not indulge into making any uncharitable or offensive comments to any media regarding coach, fellow players and officials of the First Party.  Any grievance in respect of any of the above should be brought to the attention of the Football Manager/Secretary for immediate redressal.

     (b) The Player will not divulge or disclose any of the content of his contract to the media or any fellow players.

 17. (a) The First Party shall have the right to take disciplinary action against the Player in case of violation of any clauses mentioned above or if he is guilty of any misconduct or commits any criminal offense by way of suspension or deduction of money from his remuneration/monthly salary as is decided by the Disciplinary Committee appointed by the First Party.

      (b) Not withstanding anything herein before contained the First Party will be entitled to cancel this agreement and terminate his contract and shall also have the right and option to release the player in the event of any unsatisfactory report arising out of continuing substandard performance and/or indiscipline/misconduct reported by the authorized officials.

18. In the event of any disputes and differences between the parties hereto in respect of this agreement of whatsoever nature the same shall be refer to the arbitration of a arbitrator and the decision of the arbitrator, shall be binding on the parties.

19. This agreement will remain in force for a period of 3 years i.e. 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons from the date hereof. If, however, the First Party is of the opinion that the service is not satisfactory for any reason or the player commits a breach of any term of this agreement, the First Party will be entitled to terminate this agreement earlier by giving 15 days notice in writing to the player.

20. For any suit or legal proceedings arising out of this agreement only the Courts at Kolkata shall have the jurisdiction for the purpose of this agreement.

21. In the case of the Player playing for his office team at a location beyond the purview of West Bengal, the Player will have to obtain interstate clearance in favour of the First Party. The salary for the Player will be counted from the date of the registration in favour of the First Party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT IS FURTHER AGREED UPON

7. In the event of the Player’s consistent and satisfactory performance during the First Party may pay incentive to the Player as is deemed fit.

8. That the Player will liable to pay any dues arising on his account related to Tax, Duty or any other regulatory payment either in India or while traveling abroad on service for the First Party.

9. That the Player shall not play for any other Party or establishment registered or unregistered during his contract period with the First Party.

10. That the Player shall participate in all the tournaments (Domestic & International) and all Exhibition matches in which the First Party shall participate.

11. That the Player shall not participate in any tournament in India for and on behalf of any other Party/Association/Society other than for the First Party unless the First Party allows him to play for any other team, with prior written consent.

12. That the Player has to be aware about the practice venue as well as time and shall participate in every practice session, as routined by the First Party’s Official Coach appointed by the First Party. The First Party will not be responsible to inform any playing member about the practice schedules. The Player shall be entitled to lunch/refreshments and other amenities, free of cost as provided by the First Party during such practice sessions.

13. That the Player shall join the team on the day fixed by the First Party for local/outstation tournaments/Exhibition matches in which the First Party shall Participate.

14. That Player shall have to attend any promotional programme to be organized either by the First Party or by the Sponsors associated to the First Party.

15. The Player declares that he has not signed or taken any money from any other First Party/or Institution to play for the season 2007-08 and 2008-09.

16. (a) The Player will not indulge into making any uncharitable or offensive comments to any media regarding coach, fellow players and officials of the First Party.  Any grievance in respect of any of the above should be brought to the attention of the Football Manager/Secretary for immediate redressal.

     (b) The Player will not divulge or disclose any of the content of his contract to the media or any fellow players.