Valley footballers form association

‘We will work for interests of players along with JKFA’
Srinagar, May 23: For the welfare of state footballers the Football Players Welfare Association has been formed announcement of which was made in a press conference giving at Polo ground here on Saturday.
Valley’s International footballer Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo will be the president of the association while as another former international footballer Dr Zahoor Haroon will be its general secretary. Sajid Yousuf Dar has been appointed as its Vice-President.
Wadoo himself announced the formation of association the aim of which is to work for the interests of players and to fight for their rights.
Wadoo said, “Number of people have confusion that the Welfare Association has been formed today. It is not true we have been thinking about it from last two years and finally today its announcement has been made. In our state there already existed one players association but from lat three to four years they not doing anything and it is because of that reason we have taken this step.”
“I have went to different countries along with Indian team and my club and everywhere I saw their existed a players association which works for players welfare and fight for their rights. The reason why their football is developed is because they care for their players. Once you give players their mental satisfaction it is only after that they will exert themselves for their clubs and states” he said.
The international footballer said that forming association is not any big thing but to keep it functioning and to achieve for it was formed is the important thing.
“There is lot of misconception among number of players that it is association created by Wadoo but that is not true. We have included almost all the current playing footballers in the association and we are welcoming all footballers from whole state to be part of it. It is only after all regions get equal representation that the actual motive of this association would be achieved” he said.
Wadoo said that till date organization is looking towards the welfare of footballers and the difficulties they are facing.
“Most of the footballers come from poor families and have no other means of earning livelihood. Till date whenever any player suffered injury he was left all alone. In valley clubs and selectors can throughout any player out of team at any time without any reason. At that time it is our association which has to stand up and fight for their rights” he said.
On the occasion Wadoo made it clear that the welfare association is not anti JandK Football Association and wants to work alongside with it for the development of football and welfare of players in state.
“Our association is not anti JKFA and we have nothing against them. We have formed only to fight against the discrimination of players. The other thing we will work for is utilization of talent. Everyone one says that we have talent but no one speaks about how to utilize that. We will select young talented players from different parts of valley and will give them special coaching and among that lot talented ones will be sent outside state.” Wadoo said.
Replying to a question about internal bickering of JKFA he said, “It is internal matter of JKFA and players have nothing to do with that. The JKFA office bearers should always take care that their matters should not harm players. This year the internal bickering of JKFA has cost our many players place in the Santosh trophy squad. Even last year’s captain, Shanawaz Iqbal has been thrown out and our main players like Bilal, Rizwan who have shown their talent at national level are not in team. This should not happen and players should not be involved in matters of JKFA.”
When asked about JK Santosh trophy squad he said, “The squad that has been sent is inexperienced, if they are going for only participation then it is good but if they want to perform then they should send our full strength team. As for myself is concerned I am suffering from groin injury due to which I could make it into the squad.”
Among others who were present on the occasion were East Bengal club player Waseem Feroze, Sajid Yousuf, Hilal Ahmad Rather and veteran footballer Muhammad Ismail Chapri.

Published in Greater Kashmir on May 24-2009 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=24_5_2009&ItemID=17&cat=4