Srinagar: In a State, where an un-official martial medal win can fetch you Star status what else you can expect then to see your top football team undergoing through J&K State Sports Council ‘useless’ screening process on Monday.
According to the norms, every team of State that will be representing State in any national event has to undergo through screening process conducted by screening committee of council. The screening is a process in which documents of the players are checked by members. The screening is done after the selection is done by respective associations themselves.
On Monday, it was the turn of Santosh trophy football team of the State that underwent through screening. The top football team of State had to undergo through similar process like many other sports discipline teams of the State had to go.
According to experts the whole process of screening is ‘useless’ and serve no purpose and instead give rise to corruption.
“Screening is mere formality like that of clerical check of certificates and genuineness of candidates. It gives no authenticity about the selection of players,” said an expert in the sports field.
“Last year even star footballer of State, Ishfaq Ahmad had to undergo through similar screening process while being part of JK Santosh trophy squad. It was a shame that a player of such a stature required to submit his photograph and make his presence before screening committee. This year though Ishfaq or Mehraj ud Din Wadoo were not in team but still Santosh trophy team comprise of top footballer’s of State,” he added.
Another former player well versed with the process pointed out that it would be better to scrap screening and instead sports council makes itself a part of selection process.
“It would be better for Sports Council to make amend in its norms and get involved in selection process. For selecting each team, Sports Council can send an expert from its member list, former player/coach of the game and watch whole selection process. That will make sense instead of this mockery of whole process,” he said.
The JK Santosh trophy team is to proceed Sunder Nagar HP on Dec 24th and is scheduled to play its Group-B match from Dec 28 against Haryana, Dec 30 against Uttrakhand and Jan 1 against Punjab respectively.