Renowned sports journalist Jaydeep Basu rued at the deplorable condition of the Indian football administration in the present scenario. Basu who is also a member of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) under the instruction of the Supreme Court to run the affairs of AIFF, said that this is possibly the worst phase of Indian football.
“It is so unfortunate what has happened with the AIFF (All India Football Federation). Never ever in the 85-year-old history of Indian football, such a thing has happened,” said Basu while delivering the 6th Pulin Das Memorial lecture in Guwahati on July 16.
Supreme Court had to intervene when the AIFF headed by Praful Patel failed to conduct elections for a long time. Now if the AIFF failed to conduct an independent election before September 12, they are likely to be banned by FIFA.
“This has put Indian football in huge uncertainty. If FIFA puts a ban on India, there will be no recognition of all the tournaments. Who will take the responsibilities of the future of thousands of footballers from across the country,” Basu opined.
The event was organised by Assam Sports Journalists Association (ASJA) in association with the Pulin Das memorial committee.
Basu termed Pulin Das’ contribution towards sports and sports journalism in Assam as huge. He also spoke on sports journalism completing 100 years in Assam.
This year’s lecture was significant as the ASJA is also celebrating the centenary year of sports journalism in Assam.
“To complete 100 years is a huge achievement indeed. Hundred years ago, leave alone journalism, Indian sports was in infancy. So, I must say, it has been quite a journey,” said Basu during his speech.
Public health engineering and tourism minister of Assam Jayanta Malla Barua who was the chief guest elaborated on the role played by the sports journalists and especially Pulin Das who was the pioneer.
Prior to this, other prominent personalities who delivered the annual lecture are former India badminton captain Sanjay Sarma, former India hockey captain Dilip Tirkey, Shillong Lajong FC’s owner Larsing Ming Sawyan, veteran sports journalist Lokendra Pratap Sahi and retired Judge of Supreme Court of India Justice Mukundakam Sarma.
The centenary celebration has already started on July 2. In another programme on July 9, more than 100 sports journalists of the state were felicitated. A few of the journalists who could not attend the felicitation ceremony on July 9 were also felicitated today.
The ONGC, NRL, TOPCEM Cement, USTM, Assam Cricket Association, Assam Olympic Association and other well-wishers have been sponsoring the ASJA in organising the events to celebrate the centenary year of sports journalism in Assam.
Kalyan Kumar Das, son of Pulin Das and secretary of the Pulin Das memorial committee, was also present on the occasion and spoke about the importance of retrospection of the past for the civilisation of mankind.
