After Arrows, United face dim future

Jul 09, 2013 |

New Delhi

After the All India Football Federation’s development side Pailan Arrows, another major I-League outfit, United Sports Club’s future has been thrown into uncertainty, thanks to a lack of sponsors.
The Kolkata-based club’s problems started after they lost sponsors Prayag as a fallout of the chit-fund scam in Bengal.
“We are going through problems as far as sponsors are concerned. Prayag is no more our sponsor and we have struggling ever since,” team director Nabab Bhattacharya said from Kolkata.
Even as the fear of the club closing down looms, Bhattacharya said they will try their level best to rope in a sponsor before the seventh edition of the I-League kicks off later this year.
“There is no question of closing down. We are confident of getting a sponsor before the league,” Bhattacharya said when asked if the club would shut shop if it failed to rope in a sponsor.
The club, which is home to some of the top I-League players including long-standing Nigerian striker Ranty Martins, has been on the lookout for sponsors for over two months.
Former Dempo SC star Ranty has scored over 150 goals in the league. Sources close to United SC said that the club had not been able to convince sponsors.
Bhattacharya added that a few political leaders had also pledged their support to the club. On Ranty, who had in the past expressed his desire to stay on at the club, Bhattacharya said it “was difficult to say anything until and unless things are resolved.”

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