Deserted by local players, NE football clubs look to foreigners

Guwahati, Jun 13 (UNI) Abandoned by local boys, football clubs of North East are now eyeing foreign feet for survival.

Be it Renedy Singh, Surkumar Singh, S Malsawmtluanga or Lalampuia -- all are perfect examples of footballers from the Northeastern region shining in premier clubs of Indian football.

This, however, has left the local clubs in a piquant situation while fielding their squads for big tournaments at their home states. Faced with the lack of attacking players available for these tournaments, clubs in the region are bringing players all the way from Nigeria.

Frontrunners in hiring players from outside the country are Dynamo club of Guwahati, which is relying on Nigerians for the annual Guwahati league.

''As local players are increasingly playing in clubs outside the region, we are feeling the scarcity of good strikers for the Guwahati Sports Association (GSA) league. So, we are hiring players from Nigeria for the last few years,'' says Dynamo club secretary Bhera Boro.

Dynamo, one of the top clubs of Asom, won the GSA league several times has signed four-month contract with two Nigerian strikers Ola and Babatunga for the GSA league beginning on June 25.

The club is paying a hefty amount to the players as the GSA is a prestigious tournament of the state.

''Though we tried to bring some local players playing in Kolkata clubs, nobody is ready to play for us even as we are paying much more than what they are getting there.

They are rejecting our offers because of the craze to play for premier division clubs,'' Boro says.

''Apart from the contract money, we are providing other facilities, but the local players playing outside clubs are getting much lower amount. As this is a prestigious local tournament, we are also paying a big amount to the two strikers,'' he said.

Similarly Lajong Sports club of Shillong too is bringing players from Nigeria owing to non availability of local players for the big tournaments here. The top club of Meghalaya last year hired striker like David Thagula for the local tournament.

The club organisers are, however, finding advantage of hiring the Nigerians as local players are improving playing alongside them.

''Nigerians are very good strikers and playing with them, our local players are improving their game,'' Boro said.

UNI