Guwahati/New Delhi: A top official of the Assam Football Association has objected to the name of North East United FC, the Indian Super League side to be based in Guwahati, saying that the team should have been named after the home city.
Guwahati franchise co-owner John Abraham had announced the name of the team at a function in the Assam city as North East United FC on June 10.
“The Assam government has spent more than Rs 12 crore in refurbishment of the infrastructure in Guwahati so that the ISL team can be based in the city. So, Guwahati’s name should have been reflected in the name of the club,” Ankur Dutta, who is also an Executive Committee member of the All India Football Federation and vice-chairman of the I-League Committee, said.
The question of the name was raised by Assam-based journalists during the press conference held to announce the name of the club, with the managing director of I-League club Shillong Lajong FC (also a co-owner of NE United) Larsing Ming Sawyan stating that the team can benefit from being a united North Eastern outfit.
“It is important to harness the collective identity and support of the people of the North East and harness the natural talent in football in this region,” Sawyan said at the launch. “If the North East stands united as one team, one people, one passion, then I think a team from this region has the potential to reach the top of Indian football.”
However, Dutta argued that Guwahati should have been directly included in the name of the team given the amount of money spent on facilities.
“I have no problems with [the] idea of the team being projected to represent the entire North East region. But with Assam government spending taxpayers money for the benefit of the team, then I feel it is also necessary to reflect Guwahati in the name of the team,” he added.
Dutta said that he would write to the ISL organisers IMG-Reliance on this issue.
“The names of two teams of ISL have been announced. In both the teams, Kerala Blaster FC and Atletico de Kolkata the name of the home city or the state is being mentioned. Then why not in the case of Guwahati franchise,” said Dutta.
“When tender for franchises was floated by IMG-Reliance, it said Guwahati franchise or Kolkata or Kochi franchise. Then, why was the name of Guwahati franchise made North East United FC?” Dutta asked.
The inaugural season of the ISL is scheduled to run from September to November this year.
When contacted, Shillong Lajong officials refused to comment on the issue. (Agencies)