Sony, Zee in talks with de Goa Kolkata newsline Sudeep Pakrashi Kolkata, January 23: Addressing club representatives during a meeting on the National Football League (NFL) last year, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi assured that he would help participants in need of financial assistance, by trying to find sponsors for them, before the commencement of the League this season. And, it is learnt that Das Munshi has been trying to look for sponsors for a city-based League participant.
Meanwhile, another outfit which finished in the second position, in the NFL last year, has sent an official request letter to the AIFF president, seeking his help to find a sponsor. And, Sporting Clube de Goa president Peter Vas, when asked about the issue, informed Newsline that his request was turned down. "Mr Das Munshi said that he is not sitting on the Federation president's chair to look for sponsors for the clubs and that the clubs will have to help themselves," Vas said. As a result, the Goan club is desperately trying to finalise a sponsor by the end of the first phase of the NFL. Meanwhile, the club top brass has received regret letters from Thomas Cook and Sahara. Not giving up on hope, the club has begun negotiations with Sony and Zee Sports. Vas said: "In recent times, most of the clubs participating in the League have managed sponsorships following some kind of equation with the political leaders. But, it's not possible for us to do the same." Incidentally, the club which came into prominence only during the last two years, is trying to start its youth development programme. Their Nigerian coach Cliford Chukuwama, in his third year with the team, has spotted four under-20 promising players with whom he has started training at the club ground. Chukuwama said: "I am preparing them for the next season, as I am optimistic that two among the four will be seen with the senior team in the next NFL." Chukuwama also has something lined up for the senior players. "We were supposed to participate in an invitation tournament in Maldives in December last year. But the tournament got postponed to January, and now with the League in progress, how can we take part there? But I have received an invitation from a premier Nigerian club team which wants to play friendlies in India," the coach said.
