SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov. 22: In an unprecedented move, the general body of Jharkhand Football Association (JFA) has sacked the state president Nazam Ansari and joint secretary, Dilawar Ansari for their alleged controversial role.
At the special meeting of the association held at Dhanbad on Sunday evening under the chairmanship of JFA chairman Mithilesh Thakur (sanitation and drinking minister of Jharkhand), it was unanimously decided to sack president Nazam Ansari and joint secretary Dilawar Ansari.
Senior vice-president of JFA cum general secretary of Deoghar District Football Association, Bidrohi Mitra, has been appointed the new executive president till the election is held.
Nazam Ansari of Chaibasa had been the president of the state association since 2000. Sources said as per the allegation, he was trying to run a parallel association by overlooking Chairman Mithilesh Thakur and General Secretary Gulab Rabbani in all 24 districts.
Moreover, he was not on any post in West Singhbhum football association to hold any post in the state body. So, he was sacked. Nazam Ansari and Dilawar Ansari were not available for comment on their sacking.
“Activities of games had come to stand still as Nazam Ansari was not paying proper attention. Rather, he was trying to form a parallel body. So, a new president was appointed,” said Mithilesh Thakur.
JFA General Secretary, Gulab Rabbani, after the meeting said that a fresh election of association would be held soon.
An office bearer of the Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) of Ranchi said that it is an irony that state football has been faction-ridden since its formation. First the then JOA general secretary SM Hashmi of Dhanbad and Gulab Rabbani of Giridih fought for supremacy and now Nazam Ansari has tried to establish his hold on the association.
At the meeting, AGM representatives of 20 districts out of 24 including Ranchi, Jamshedpur Latehar, Dhanbad, Lohardaga, Hazaribagh,Chatra, Ramgarh, Khuintki, Dumka, Bokaro, Palamu, West Singhbhum, Giridih, Jamtara, Godda , Saraikela, Deoghar and Sahibganj participated.