Players almost return cash incentives of Rs 10,000 demanding higher amount
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 24 2009:
The State Football team who have won the 1st Dr T Ao Memorial Football Trophy held in Dimapur, Nagaland from November 3 to 12 last was felicitated today by the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) at the resident of its president Arambam Santoshkumar at Sagolband Ingudum Leikai.
As announced earlier, President, AMFA, Arambam Santoshkumar distributed cash incentives of Rs 10,000 each to the officials and players of the state team who clinched the first title of winners of the 1st Dr T Ao Memoorial Football Trophy.
After the distribution of the certificates and cash incentives, a commotion was occured as the players demanded higher cash incentives.
The players demanded that the cash prize of the trophy was Rs seven lakhs.
They expressed their view of giving at least half of the amount as incentives to the players.
However the commotion was ended as the players took back their demand keeping in view about the future of football and the players.
Officials of AMFA also expressed their view that the act of the players demanding higher incentives was indiscipline.
The executive committee had already declared its decision to give cash incentives of Rs 10,000 each to the players and officials of the team and to use the remaining for developing football in the state for future players.
It may be recalled that Manipur defeated host Nagaland 2-0 in the final match of the tournament which was participated by eight states of the North East India and won the first ever coveted trophy of the tournament.
Along with the trophy state team also got a cash prize of Rs seven lakhs as prize money for winning the trophy.
State player S Santa who is also the vice captain of the state team was adjusted the title of best player and was awarded a cash prize of Rs 25,000.It may be also noted that Manipur had entered the final round without a single defeat from the begining of the tournament.