- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 18, 2012 -
It will indeed be a historical landmark for the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) this year since the Association is adopting the new guidelines of the International governing body of football, FIFA and the instruction of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in holding the election for executive committee of AMFA.
As per the guidelines and instruction of FIFA and AIFF, no life members and honorary life members of AMFA will be allowed to contest the upcoming elections for the different posts of AMFA's Executive Committee.
It is good that FIFA has taken up such initiatives which will give a boost to the development of football in all spheres.
While it is a good step for the football itself, the new guidelines has given a direct blow to many life members, in various football associations across the world, who hold key post in their respective associations.
According to media reports, based on the list of voters published by the AMFA, there seems to be some misconduct on the part of the present governing body of AMFA.
According to the new rules, each and every district associations shall have to submit a list of eight representatives to the AMFA for the election to form the Executive Committee.
While 88 representatives from 11 district associations were included in the list of approved representatives by AMFA, the association have rejected the list of representatives submitted by Chandel district unit on the ground that they submitted the list late.
While it was considered a rightful decision on the part of AMFA to reject the list of representatives submitted by Chandel district Unit in accordance to the rules of AMFA, controversies have risen over inclusion of some life members of AMFA as representatives from some other district units rather than from their own district units just to get re-elected into the new Executive Committee.
It was reported that two members of AMFA who are holding key posts in the present Executive Committee of AMFA have been included in the list as representatives from other districts. Besides, there are other life members whose names have been included in the list of representatives of the different district units.
The moot point is, if the rejection of the list of representatives of Chandel district Unit was right; then why inclusion of life members from districts they do not represent be acceptable.
If the matter is not solved rightfully in the true spirit of promoting football, the sustainability of AMFA and football development programme in the state is likely to suffer a setback.
In order to promote football, free and fair election process of AMFA is very much needed. In the present situation of Manipur, sports, especially football, plays an important role in uniting the people of different communities.
While the whole world is trying to bring peace and unity through games and sports, any act of misconduct on the part of AMFA may give a major blow to the integration of the different communities in the state.
If free and fair election process is not adopted in the upcoming election of AMFA's Executive Committee, the future of football in the state is likely to fade away instead of development.
It will be indeed a blotch in the fair history of football in the state if necessary corrections were not made and allow controversies to rear its head.
All that we can hope and look forward is transparency in the election process of the new Executive Committee so that the game of football continues to flourish and our footballers outshine their competitors in the field.
Let the reputation of Manipur as the powerhouse of sports, not be tainted by petty politics.
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