JCT FC Shuts Down,huge blow for Indian Football
ashindia
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JCT FC Disbands itself
New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI) In a big jolt to Indian football, Punjab-based JCT Club today disbanded itself from professional football citing lack of public interest in the game in the country.
The development was not a surprising one as there had been speculations that the club, which was demoted from the I-League last month, would shut shop as it has been struggling for the last few years.
JCT''s decision could also have an impact in All India Football Federation''s efforts to rope in corporate sector in the development of the game.
"JCT Limited has taken a strategic decision to pullout for the time being till football in India shows some possibility of generating value for corporates and their brands, besides bringing up popularity of football among youngsters," a press release from the club said.
"JCT Limited being a corporate, needs to justify to its stakeholders the effort vs visibility of the football team. Today, football teams worldwide have become self-sustaining enterprises for which high exposure is needed to build viewer ship and spectators in the stadium.
"JCT won the inaugural Football League in 1996, where there was high quality TV exposure and widespread public interest. But since then the League has had negligible exposure and the teams have been going almost unnoticed," the release said.
The Punjab powerhouse side''s decision to pull out from competitive football has come a year after Mahindra United disbanded after finding itself difficult to sustain due to lack of interest in the game in the country.
JCT chief Samir Thapar had been critical of the inability of the AIFF to market the game. He was not at all happy that the I-League matches were not telecast live even after the AIFF signed a 10-year commercial partnership deal worth Rs 700 crore with IMG-Reliance last year. .
Source :- Yahoo
New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI) In a big jolt to Indian football, Punjab-based JCT Club today disbanded itself from professional football citing lack of public interest in the game in the country.
The development was not a surprising one as there had been speculations that the club, which was demoted from the I-League last month, would shut shop as it has been struggling for the last few years.
JCT''s decision could also have an impact in All India Football Federation''s efforts to rope in corporate sector in the development of the game.
"JCT Limited has taken a strategic decision to pullout for the time being till football in India shows some possibility of generating value for corporates and their brands, besides bringing up popularity of football among youngsters," a press release from the club said.
"JCT Limited being a corporate, needs to justify to its stakeholders the effort vs visibility of the football team. Today, football teams worldwide have become self-sustaining enterprises for which high exposure is needed to build viewer ship and spectators in the stadium.
"JCT won the inaugural Football League in 1996, where there was high quality TV exposure and widespread public interest. But since then the League has had negligible exposure and the teams have been going almost unnoticed," the release said.
The Punjab powerhouse side''s decision to pull out from competitive football has come a year after Mahindra United disbanded after finding itself difficult to sustain due to lack of interest in the game in the country.
JCT chief Samir Thapar had been critical of the inability of the AIFF to market the game. He was not at all happy that the I-League matches were not telecast live even after the AIFF signed a 10-year commercial partnership deal worth Rs 700 crore with IMG-Reliance last year. .
Source :- Yahoo
Comments
A club which lost 14-0 survived and one with good youth structure shuts down.
"Mr Samir Thapar, as president of Punjab Football Association, will continue to work with passion for strengthening the sport of football at grass-root level in Punjab and also through JCT Football Academy continue to find and train youngsters for tomorrow as the academy has been grooming champions for JCT and almost all football clubs of Indian football."
Thanks to JCT for there contribution towards Indian football. We hope you make a strong comeback soon
You can blame AIFF but not the rules. These rules have been in place for last 2 seasons...not that AIFF suddenyl made them a week before last round. JCT was aware of the rules...