NEW DELHI: Shillong club Ryntih SC misses I-League direct entry chance as after scrutinising the clarifications sought for from the submitted documents, and also presentations from the respective bidders in the previous meeting (July 31, 2020), the bid committee of the All India Football Federation, after consultation with PwC decided to grant playing rights to Sudeva in the forthcoming Hero I-League 2020-21.
On Wednesday night, Ryntih SC in an FB post thanked all its supporters and well wishers and stated that the club was yet to receieve any official notification regarding the results.
“As most of you may have read and seen through social media outlets in their posts, the AIFF has announced the Winners of the Bidding Process into the I League.
But through this statement, the Club wants to notify all its supporters and well wishers that the Club has not recieved any official notification regarding the Results.
Nevertheless, regardless of the Result the Club shall move forward with its vision, goals and objectives. We express our sincere gratitude to all of the Club’s fans, followers and well wishers who have also supported with the club.
We appeal to all of our Supporters to stand with the Team through thick and thin upto the day that we achieve all of or our dreams!! #Hoi Kiw!!!” reads the post from Ryntih SC Facebook page.
Members of the bid committee of the All India Football Federation and representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) met over a video conference to discuss over clarifications which were sought in the previous meeting (July 31, 2020) from the three prospective clubs — Sudeva (Delhi), Sreenidhi (Visakhapatnam), and Ryntih (Shillong) – for participation in the Hero I-league 2020-21. Besides Senior vice-president Subrata Dutta, also the Chairman of the League Committee, AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das, League CEO Sunando Dhar, Tetea Hmar (Executive Committee member), and ZA Thakur (Treasurer, AIFF) attended the meet as did Chirag Tanna.
The Committee also granted playing rights to Sreenidhi in the Hero I-League from 2021-22 onwards.
League Committee Chairman Dutta said to www.the-aiff.com: “I on the behalf of AIFF, welcome Sudeva to the Hero I-League family. I wish them all the best and look forward to a competitive league.”
“I would also like to congratulate and welcome Sreenidhi from the 2021-22 edition of the Hero I-League.” “With Sudeva FC joining the fray, we now have 12 teams competing in the next Hero I-League.
Most significantly, we now have a representation from the Capital,” Dutta averred.
“Sreenidihi is also a well-organised professional club with good infrastructure and facilities. Their participation would naturally enrich the Hero I-League from 2021-22 onwards,” he added.
“Both the clubs have been contributing to the youth football development in a big way for some years.
”General Secretary Das mentioned how the introduction of teams from new cities falls in line with the AIFF’s Strategic Plan to broad base the game and move forward together with all stakeholders.
“Welcome Sudeva to the Hero I-League family. We have been working to get teams from different regions and cities to reach out to newer fans and provide the Hero I-league more pan Indian presence which is in line with the AIFF Strategic Plan. Good luck,” Das stated.
He also expressed his pleasure that Sreenidhi will be playing from Vizag from 2021-22 season.
League CEO Dhar hoped that like in the past, the introduction of a team from a new region will rejuvenate the ‘beautiful game,’ further.
“We have seen in the past that the inclusion of a team from a new region has acted as a catalyst to develop football in that region. We are confident Sudeva from this season and Sreenidhi from next season would help develop and popularise football pan India in the coming years,” Dhar expressed. (Agencies)
