Date:07/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090755221800.htm

Sport - Football

‘Tell players about rights’

Special Correspondent

The FPA was established in 2006
Menezes wonders how long the authorities will permit clubs to get away with amateur tactics

MUMBAI: Indian football internationals N.P. Pradeep and Steven Dias, caught in a tangle between Mahindra United (MU) and East Bengal (EB) over inter-club transfer, need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities as professionals, feels former India goalkeeper Henry Menezes, currently general manager of I-League First Division club Mumbai FC.

“The case about Pradeep and Steven highlights the necessity to educate players about rights when joining clubs and equally importantly, about responsibilities towards fulfilling contract obligations,” he said. “The Football Players Association (FPA) of India can be the body to do so, so that players don’t suffer due to oral promises from club officials. Players also need to understand that clubs will pay more to those committed enough to play out the duration of contract before moving on.”

The FPA was established in 2006, with India captain Baichung Bhutia as the head.

Kerala midfielder Pradeep and Mumbai playmaker Steven, both prominent figures in the senior national team, represented MU in the I-League last season. Before the contract with the Mumbai club expired, the two signed up for EB citing enhanced playing fees and the challenge of performing in the Kolkata league as the reasons.

The inter-club transfer did not come through, leading to a dispute and the matter came up before the AIFF Players Status Committee. Both clubs were asked by the committee to resolve the matter amicably, failing which the players were asked to remain with MU in keeping with the written contract.

Menezes hopes that Indian players, from now on, will seek professional support before accepting offers from clubs, so that they understand the fine print before committing services and are able to deliver in terms of performances.

“Leading players in the I-League are earning in lakhs, so they can take legal support to study contracts before signing, appoint agents to negotiate with clubs and afterwards take help from sports medicine experts to stay healthy and recover from injuries. Players will only be helping themselves by being more professional,” he said, citing Baichung Bhutia and Brazilian striker Jose Barretto as examples.

Right image

“Playing well is only part of the job for an Indian professional, projecting the right image is also vital which these two manage to do.”

Pradeep hit the headlines with a stunning match-winner in the Nehru Cup final against Syria at New Delhi. Steven, into his fourth season with the Mumbai club, made a mark at the international level as a clever playmaker, both players relishing freedom to function as support to the strikers under India coach Bob Houghton.

Both players cited oral promises as the reason for the switch. MU is supposed to have verbally told Steven of matching higher offers from other clubs. EB got both India stars to sign after convincing them that the contract issues with their former employer would be sorted out.

Menezes wonders how long the authorities will permit clubs to get away with amateur tactics. “Two Indian players in top form went through a lot of mental tension before knowing their fate. I wonder whether big clubs are getting away by taking advantage of players’ ignorance or trust.

“A firm decision, based on Players Transfer rules in force here, was expected. FIFA and AFC rules on players transfer are clear, so decisions are handed out by the world and Asian bodies, instead of suggestions.”

MU signed Pradeep from State Bank of Travancore, Steven joined the Mumbai club from Air-India.

Menezes views the money spent by Indian football clubs on recruiting talent as an investment. “It is like playing the stock market. You sign up young talent at a low price, like buying shares of a new company, and then invest on the player’s training and development. When the share turns into a blue chip, the clubs want return on investment when the player wants to move on.”