Seven Manipuri players seek AIFF intervention after accusing coaching staff of nepotism

The latest controversy to strike the Indian women’s football team is the accusation from seven Manipur-based female players directed towards the coaching staff. The players in question pulled out of the ongoing national camp that is being held in Cuttack without offering any official reason given for their withdrawal.

However, reports in Scroll.in have reported that the group of players has penned their grievances in a letter which was addressed to AIFF general secretary - Kushal Das. The major reason behind the mass withdrawal is because of the favoritism being practiced by the coaching staff comprised of head coach Maymol Rocky and assistant - Chaoba Devi.

“Head Coach and Assistant Coach of the National Team are not able to bring the team together and in fact play divide and rule policy leading to a stifling situation in the camp and the team,” the letter read, reported Scroll. 

Among the seven players to withdraw from the camp was 29-year old Bala Devi, who has 36 international goals to her name. Bala Devi, a two-time AIFF player of the year, was the captain of the national team when India won their last SAFF Cup in 2016. Another Manipur-based player, Kamala Devi, who has made 61 international appearances, was also among the seven players. Kamala was AIFF’s Woman Footballer of the Year for 2017. 

“The problems between us and Chaoba Devi started long ago. Some of us do not play for her team Kryphsa and play for other teams in Manipur. That in turn, led to her singling some players out,” an anonymous player explained.

Another source close to the players had stated the players had approached Rocky regarding Chaoba Devi’s behaviour, but the coach had stuck by her assistant, leading to the mass withdrawal from the camp.

“One of them even used expletives to many of us now and then which are intolerable. Their attitude resulted in lack of camaraderie which was seen in the result against Nepal. Not only are they arrogant challenging the players now and then saying we will not be selected if we do not toe their line. We follow what is instructed in the field as per their plan but they are hell bent on destroying the gamesmanship by openly showing favouritism which was pointed out but it made both of them even more vindictive. Not only in selection of players for the team, even for fielding there is favouritism,” the letter further read.

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