Mohammedan Sporting in a spot

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

Mohammedan Sporting Club is on the lookout for a replacement for general secretary Mir Mohammad Omar, after the Supreme Court sentenced him to a life term.

Among those approached to take charge of Calcutta's leading football club are Food and Supplies Minister Kalimuddin Shams and member, mayor-in-council (health) Calcutta Municipal Corporation, Javed Ahmed Khan.

While Shams could not be contacted, Khan said he expressed inability to take up the offer.

. Khan told rediff.com, "I was recently elected to the municipal corporation and am in charge of its health affairs. Due to a possible spurt in malaria cases, I will not be able to do justice to this offer. But I sincerely hope a good sports-person having sound administrative know-how takes over the club soon. There is no dearth of talent among our players. We need a good motivator."

Khan blamed Omar for metamorphosing the club into his business head office. "No one, not even the players, were happy with his style of functioning. People complained that he ran the club's administration in a despotic manner," he remarked.

Abdul Khalique, Mohammedan Sporting's strike player, told rediff.com that Omar's sudden disappearance had left all players in a predicament.

"He always played a dominant role in the recruitment of players and finalisation of their fees. While some have been paid only the first instalment, many colleagues are still waiting for their fees. We do not know what is in store for us. The news of his life sentence has lowered the team's morale," Khalique added.

The SC verdict had an immediate effect on the team's already depleted morale. The black and white brigade lost to arch rival Mohun Bagan by five goals in the final leg encounter of the Super Division league. Though the club has averted relegation, it is not in the race for the coveted title.

A division bench, comprising Justices K T Thomas and R P Sethi had convicted Omar and others on charges of abduction and murder on Tuesday.

The apex court sentenced Omar and the others to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment in the abduction case and life-term for murder.

The usually crowded local club at Chuna Gali wore a deserted look. Some local residents said Omar had gone underground after receiving news of his life sentence.

The Calcutta police expressed inability to arrest him till they receive a formal order from the SC. "We cannot do anything unless we are officially informed about his conviction," said Nazrul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (headquarters).

Mohammedan Sporting Club president Salman Khurshid, however, said there was nothing to panic about. He said the club's affairs would be on schedule. According to him, the executive body is likely to hold an emergency meeting to review the situation.

The club's performance in recent years has not been encouraging and the once unbeatable outfit did not even qualify for the National League last year. Its showing in the Calcutta Super Division league too has been below par.

Omar had offered twice to quit, following criticism from the club's fans and well-wishers, but no replacement was found. The club was also not able to rope in a team sponsor.

While rival Mohun Bagan has become a public limited company and attracted sponsorship from the UB Group, Mohammedan Sporting could not even convince its 50-odd members to renew membership.

Rediff.com made repeated attempts to contact Omar or his close friends.