The transfer saga of the two Mahindra United players, Steven Dias and NP Pradeep, to East Bengal doesn’t seem to end.
AIFF grants time up to Sept 5 to both the players, failing which they will have to return to Mahindra United
MUMBAI: The transfer saga of the two Mahindra United players, Steven Dias and NP Pradeep, to East Bengal doesn’t seem to end. The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Player Status Committee on Thursday gave a week more to both clubs to reach amicable compromise, failing which both the players will have to represent the Mumbai outfit for this season at least.
The five-member committee consisting of Kehar Singh (Maharashtra), Antonio Botelho (Goa), KP Sunny (Kerela), Debashish Banerjee (West Bengal) and A Rahman (Karnataka) decided in the meeting in New Delhi, which lasted for over four hours, to give time until September 5 to both the clubs to settle the issue, else Dias’ and Pradeep’s agreements with East Bengal would be considered void.
Though Mahindra United coach Derick Periera seemed disappointed with the decision of the committee to grant more time, he said there was no question that the club would release the players. “I don’t see why they had to tell the clubs to compromise. It is quite simple, the players are contracted with us and should be playing for us until their contract expires,” he told DNA from Delhi, where his team will open its Durand Cup campaign today.
Pereira said East Bengal will now have to get back to the Mumbai club with a proposal and if they accept it, only then the two players will be released. “But it is unlikely that we will let go the two players. They play a very important role in the team,” he said.
Mahindra will be playing Army XI team in their first match today and Pereira said his team will miss mid-fielder Dias’ services. “It’s sad that Steven won’t be a part of our team for the Durand Cup. Pradeep anyways is injured, so he could not be a part of the squad here but Steven will surely be missed.”
Pradeep still has a year left in his contract with Mahindra, while Dias has been signed by the Mumbai giants till 2010. However, the player in the center of the controversy, Pradeep, said that it would be unfair if he and Dias were not allowed to move to East Bengal. “They (Mahindra United) made false promises to us. If we are forced to play here then it would be more out of compulsion to honour the contract,” he said, adding that it was his dream to play for East Bengal.
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