Srinagar, November 25: In a major development the five major professional private football clubs of J&K held a joint meeting in Srinagar on Wednesday, November 25.
With the aim to work together for the development of football and footballers in J&K, Only I-League club of J&K, Real Kashmir FC, pioneers of professional clubs in Kashmir, Lone Star Kashmir FC, Old city of Srinagar based club Downtown Heroes FC, Hyderya Sports and Kashmir Avengers held a joint meeting on Wednesday in Real Kashmir FC’s office.
The meeting was held to discuss the issues plaguing these private professional football clubs and the future initiatives that can be taken jointly for the development.
Meeting was chaired by Real Kashmir FC owner Sandeep Chattoo and was attended by representatives of Downtown Heroes FC, Lone Star, Kashmir Avengers and Hyderya Sports. From Downtown Heroes meeting was attended by its owner Mushtaq Bashir and co-owner Hinan Bhat. From Lone Star meeting was attended by its owner and by it’s Technical Director Fahad. Hyderya FC was represented by its Coach Muneer Ahmed while as Kashmir Avengers by it’s owner Arshad Ahmed and coach Rizwan.
The clubs discussed the current scenario of football in J&K and also other minor and major issues hampering in the growth of the football.
“It was cordial friendly meeting to know each other and discuss the minor and major things related to our clubs. It was productive meet and each one discussed their vision and ideas related to the growth of the game in J&K, ” Said Mushtaq Bashir, Owner of Downtown Heroes FC.
“It was new learning experience and it will surely help us. Sandeep Ji shared his ideas of the club and every up and down incidents. Being top team and pride of J&K, club like ours can only take positives from it for our own growth, ” Mushtaq added.
The clubs concluded that they will work jointly and will launch inter-club programs between them for the growth of the game and players. They also concluded they will reach out to Sports Council and J&K Football Association to highlight the issues and problems faced by them.
Pertinently, Real Kashmir FC, Lone Star, Downtown Heroes FC, Kashmir Avengers FC and Hyderya Sports are the only professional football clubs in Kashmir that offer its footballers professional contracts for playing. While magnitude of Real Kashmir FC is huge owing to it’s I-League stature, Lone Star Kashmir have also done lot owing to it’s regular participation in second division I-League. Downtown Heroes FC, Kashmir Avengers and Hyderya Sports are new entrants in the list and aim to provide top level facilities to the footballers.