Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA), Jammu, expressed strong concern over the exclusion of players from the Jammu region in the recently selected J&K team for the Santosh Trophy Football Championship being played in Punjab.
Addressing a press conference, Ex-JKFA members, led by Adv Surinder Singh Bunty, (former Treasurer), along with Kuldeep Singh, Narinder Gupta, Mohan Lal, Charanpreet Singh Bagga, David Burrat, Moon Stephen and others, condemned the selection process, terming it biased, unprecedented, and unacceptable. They demanded a judicial enquiry into the entire selection process, rejecting the newly constituted enquiry committee due to doubts over the credibility and neutrality of some members.
The ex-members highlighted that no District League tournaments have been held in Jammu Division since 2018, and major tournaments like the State Championship have not been organized for the past seven years. The association also raised concerns over the lack of infrastructure, coaches and trainers, which has led to a decline in young football talent.
Highlighting Jammu’s rich football legacy, the former JKFA members said players from the region have consistently excelled at national and international levels. Jammu has produced 11 international players, with many others representing departmental teams and professional clubs across India. They recalled that five Jammu players were part of the J&K XI that defeated Mohun Bagan at GGM Science College, Jammu, in 2011.
Clarifying the role of the J&K Sports Council, JKFA ex-members stated that the Council only screens teams selected for national events, while trials, training and selections are managed solely by the Association. They emphasized that since its inception in 1962, JKFA has maintained regional balance in team selection.
Appealing to the Government, they demanded immediate elections of the general body, provision of modern infrastructure including astro turf grounds, recruitment of coaches and trainers and revival of tournaments like the State Championship and District Leagues to restore Jammu’s footballing glory.
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