Churchill Brothers cling to hope

PANAJI: The tunnel appears to be dark but there could still be light at the end of it.
Churchill Brothers Sports Club face an uncertain future after the All India Football Federation knocked them out of the I-League for their failure to meet the stringent Indian Club Licensing Criteria.
For a club that has been in the top-flight of Indian football since the inception of the National Football League in 1996 and has won the I-League twice in the last six years, the decision has come as a cruel blow.But the club management is clinging on to hope that they can overcome what is easily the most difficult time.
"For this moment, I am blank. I've not been able to apply my mind but I am sure that we can find a way. The contribution of Churchill Brothers cannot be forgotten by Indian football lovers, and we do not want to go out like this," said club boss Churchill Alemao.
Churchill has been one of the most consistent teams in the top-tier of Indian football, winning the I-League twice, runners-up four times and finished third three times. Of course, in one season they were relegated to the Second Division from where they fought their way back to the top, but entertainment has never been in short supply from a club that has won the highest goal-scorer award a record eight times, thanks to the exploits of Phillip Mensah, Yakubu Yusif and Odafa Okolie.
Churchill Brothers are understood to be exploring ways to overturn the ban and one such mean is to lodge an appeal with the AIFF executive committee. The executive committee has the power to keep the club licensing committee decision on hold.
"We will be making a statement in the next 48 hours. Appealing to the executive committee is an option that is available to us," said Alemao.
Churchill's forceful exit from the I-League has saddened football lovers in the state and among them was Goa Football Association president Shrinivas Dempo.
"It is unfortunate for Goan football because they are a champion club and have won the I-League twice," said Dempo.
The GFA president is also vice-president of the AIFF and said he would back Churchill's appeal if they had a genuine case.
"The licensing part was handled by an independent committee and the executive committee maintained its distance. One has to go through all the papers and see why they have been relegated.
"Over the last 18 months, there were several workshops conducted for Goan clubs by the AIFF. They took each club through the process and enough time was given for all clubs to fulfil the criteria. But if Churchill's case is genuine, we should all support their appeal to the AIFF," said the AIFF vice-president.