USFC defends its player against ‘foreign player’ allegations

URGES SFA FOR SOFTER APPROACH
GANGTOK, 30 July: United Sikkim FC has urged Sikkim Football Association [SFA] not to tag its under-trial player Pealsang Lama as a ‘foreign player’ as such labeling would almost certainly adversely affect his promising professional football career.
The 21-year-old defensive midfielder of United Sikkim has been debarred from participating in the ongoing senior division S-League as the SFA yesterday stated that his international transfer certificate required under AIFF rules have not been submitted. His introduction as a substitute in the match against SAI Namchi on 26 July ultimately resulted in SFA stripping the USFC of the 3 points it had bagged after trouncing SAI 3-0.
Maintaining that the SFA should have first sought explanation from USFC on the whole issue instead of penalizing the club, senior manager Arjun Rai told media persons here that Pealsang is undeniably an Indian citizen and the club is trying to look for his antecedents to confirm the same.
“We have written a letter to the SFA presenting our side of the story on Pealsang,” he said adding that the club is upset on the way the SFA has handled the issue.
The story of Pealsang’s origins remains complicated but the fact is that he is from a poor background and is pursuing his dream to earn a livelihood through football, said Mr Rai. He admitted that Pealsang had told the club that he is from Sikkim when he first came for trials and impressed everyone including club co-owner Bhaichung Bhutia with his football skills.
 “Seeing the poor financial condition of a talented footballer from the hills, Bhaichung gave him the opportunity to play for United Sikkim. He is under trial and tagging him a foreign player would ruin his football career and livelihood as professional clubs in India are allowed only three foreign players. He may not be from Sikkim but is definitely an Indian and United Sikkim is helping him to trace his relatives”, Mr Rai further said.
Pealsang’s father is said to be from Darjeeling who came to work in Rhenock, East Sikkim as a carpenter. Unfortunately, Pealsang lost his father when he was just one year old and his Nepalese mother took him back to Nepal and raised him there. He does not have any uncles from his father’s side while his grandmother is said to be from Sikkim.
“Pealsang has no knowledge of his relatives either in Sikkim or Darjeeling. He used to come and play in Sikkim for Nepal clubs in the past and stays with a well-wisher here. He has seen lot of hardships and football is a way out for him. We will help him in his paper work and we request the SFA not to recognize him as a foreign player which will have a damaging effect on his dreams. We also request SFA to allow him to play on humanitarian grounds”, urged Mr Rai.
The United Sikkim senior manager further said that the club has been respecting the rules of SFA for fielding seven local players in the senior division S-League matches. “United Sikkim always believes in local talents and has signed on a dozen local players including two fresh talents from the State Sports Academy on handsome salaries this season. We have been fielding nine local players in the matches and only in the match against SAI Namchi, the matter got complicated with the introduction of Pealsang”, he said.
Mr Rai was not present during the particular match as he was out of Sikkim while the local assistant coach Pranay Subba was away to attend an AIFF coaching seminar.
Commenting on the poor run of United Sikkim at this league, the senior manager said that the club is obviously not happy with the results. “But we are giving maximum opportunities to the local players and they have got valuable exposure and game experience”, said Mr Rai.