Jharkhand sports department steps in to ensure women’s football team participation in Santosh Trophy

Ranchi, Nov 23: On the directive of the chief minister Hemant Soren and intervention of state sports department, the state women’s football team will now play in the Santosh Trophy.

The All India Football Federation(AIFF)  has informed through a letter yesterday about the deprivation of Jharkhand’s team from playing in the Santosh Trophy.

After receiving the information and on directive of chief minister, the state sports director Zeeshan Qamar, after talking with the officials of the national federation, was informed that the players should not be denied to play under any circumstances.

He also said that the ongoing work between the federation and the state government may get hampered if the Jharkhand team is denied playing the Santosh Trophy.

After the initiative of the government, it was assured by the National Football Federation that the National Federation would send its technical team and prepare a list of players.

Sports Director, Zeeshan Qamar said that Chief Minister is doing many things to promote sports. In this direction, after the national team of women’s football, the camp of the women’s team of national under-17 is going to be organized with the help of Jharkhand government. In such a situation, playing with the future of the players of Jharkhand by the Federation will not be accepted at any cost. 

Significantly, AIFF had barred Jharkhand from participating in the Santosh Trophy due to ‘internal conflict’ within the management of the Jharkhand Football Association as two independents teams in both men and women section were received by AIFF from Jharkhand. Despite all efforts the issue of multiple entrant requests they could not resolve the issue.