Aizawl coach asks AIFF to save club from relegation
Aizawl FC coach Jahar Das has pleaded to the AIFF to save the club from relegation so as to “develop Indian football”. With Aizawl FC boasting a huge majority of local talent, the Mizoram club finished 8th in the recently concluded I-League and were relegated to the second tier of Indian football.
DSK Shivajians were the team to finish at the bottom of the league, but were immune to relegation for being a new corporate entry into the league, and Aizawl had to suffer as a result. Jahar Das expressed his disappointment and has wished for the relegation to be overturned.
“We have performed quite well this season, so the AIFF should give serious consideration to keeping us in the I-league main draw,” the coach told the Hindu.
With the I-League season being highly competitive this season, there was not much to choose between the top and the bottom teams according to Das. “Bottom placed sides have frequently defeated the top sides- the overall standard was high. If the AIFF wants to develop Indian football, they should rule in favour of Aizawl FC,” he added.
Despite the concerns raised by the coach, the AIFF said that they are yet to receive any formal request for the same. “They have spoken to us over the phone a few times in the past, asking us to exempt them from relegation, but they are yet to file an official request. If the club files a formal letter, we can discuss the matter,” said Sunando Dhar, the I-League CEO.
