City Bahadurgarh left with just 8 players as 12 leave for home
Panaji: City Bahadurgarh FC arrived in Goa for the Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2 after raising money through crowdfunding. They raised just enough with villagers, and fans across the country, contributing towards their expenses for the second-tier tournament.
The Haryana champions’ dream, however, ended before the conclusion of the group stage as 12 of their players left the club to take part in the Haryana State Senior Women’s Championship.
The Haryana champions’ dream, however, ended before the conclusion of the group stage as 12 of their players left the club to take part in the Haryana State Senior Women’s Championship.
The team now has just eight players available for the concluding clash against Khad FC on Saturday.
“We are now suffering, and in crisis, as 12 of our players left the competition due to the Haryana state senior women championship and for now, we are left with eight players here for the next match. Please guide us,” manager Vinay Joon wrote in a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
According to the manager, the players left in two batches. While seven of them left the team hotel at 3am on Wednesday morning, others packed their bags for home three hours later.
“We are now suffering, and in crisis, as 12 of our players left the competition due to the Haryana state senior women championship and for now, we are left with eight players here for the next match. Please guide us,” manager Vinay Joon wrote in a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
According to the manager, the players left in two batches. While seven of them left the team hotel at 3am on Wednesday morning, others packed their bags for home three hours later.
Bahadurgarh have lost all three of their games played so far and are at the bottom of the pool.
“We are a new club and reached here after great difficulties, but this is a new experience for us,” Vinay, the club manager, told TOI. “We have to take lessons from here. The players said they have to leave to take part in the state championship (played inter-district) and we could do nothing to stop them since the dates are clashing.”
According to sources, the players have written separate letters – all with identical text in Hindi – to the team manager informing him about the unavailability.
“The Haryana state championship starts on March 29 which I have to take part. I will not be able to play the final game and I am leaving the team on my own will,” the players said in their letters.
Bahadurgarh emerged as the champions of the inaugural Women’s Football League, becoming the first team to represent Haryana in IWL 2. In the concluding clash, Bahadurgarh edged out Alakhpura FC to emerge champions with an unbeaten record of eight wins and two draws.
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