Refuting the statement of former Indian Football team captain that footballers in Jammu are very enthusiastic but their coaching and training is not “upto the mark” for representing the pro platforms, Majid Yousuf, Executive Officer (Football), Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council said that he has hurt aspirations of many football players and have sent the wrong message within the community.
“We strongly disagree with his (Tarun Roy) statement since it may have hurt the aspirations of many football players and sent the wrong message within the football community,” Majid said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.
He said that the statement made by Roy, the Technical Director of Zinc Football Academy Udaipur and former Indian Coach, citing lack of coaching and training in Jammu is completely unjustified and unacceptable when it comes to conducting selection trials in a professional manner.
Notably, Tarun was in town recently to conduct day-long selection trials for the Zinc Football Academy.
“While we acknowledge Tarun’s accomplishments in the field of football, it would be inaccurate to suggest that Jammu-based football players did not meet the required standards during the selection process,” said Majid, who happens to be a former National Footballer.
He stated that any professional club or academy conducting trials must have a proper plan and preparations in place before conducting the trials for which Tarun must have been well aware of.
Majid claimed, “within a five-year span, J&K Sports Council Football Academy, established and operated by the Government of J&K, has produced 13 players for Indian national teams and ISL & I-League clubs.”
It is not appropriate to scout players for professional platforms by informing them a day or two before and providing them 30 to 40 minutes of time to showcase their talent, he added.
He further said that in Jammu and its adjacent areas, there is no shortage of talent, adding, “football icons such as Rishi Rajput, Dimple Bhagat, Raghav Gupta, Ravi Rana, Parth and legendary Arun Malhotra have all played for top notch teams of the country as well as national teams.”
The majority of them have originated from J&K grassroots and academy activities over the years, adding, “the absence of appropriate talent in the same location where these players were developed is irrelevant to the statement made by the visiting coach.”
The request letter for the allotment from Zinc Academy was received by the Sports Council office a few days ago, and without any delay, Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul granted the permission to Zinc Academy without any costs at both Srinagar and Jammu, suggesting that they were perhaps eager to perform the trails in J&K creating opportunities for the local lads.
“Despite the fact that all sports activities are in full swing, trials in Srinagar were postponed due to the ongoing elections. These justifications help to explain their casual approach and careless handling of the selection processes in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Majid said, “Tarun’s statement is only an attempt to hide their unethical trial scheduling practises. We have witnessed many times that officials, visiting J&K for one reason or another, to see Vaishno Devi Darshan, Dal Lake, and Mughal Gardens.”
