Dynamo players (in orange) at a practice match against ASEB at Nehru Stadium, Guwahati, on Friday. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Guwahati, July 8: Dynamo Sports Club suffered a major setback in their preparation for the forthcoming Guwahati Sports Association?s Super League Championship with the Nigerian recruits failing to get the necessary inter-state transfer clearance.

Signing on two Nigerians, Michael Bassey from Central Railway, Mumbai and David Fagoola from Lajong SC, Shillong, on four-month contracts, Dynamo were preparing to unseat Assam State Electricity Board SC and Assam Police Blues from the top two positions in the championship.

However, their hopes fizzled out early this month when their respective state associations told the Assam Football Association that the duo had not applied for an inter-state transfer. They had only applied for release from their respective clubs, which they had been granted in March itself. The last date for inter-state transfer was on June 20.

Though the club is trying to bring in the duo on lien, there is a standing suspension on the lien system by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). ?If the AIFF lifts the ban, we will try to manage something,? Dynamo Club general secretary Bhola Boro said. ?Our preparation has no doubt suffered a jolt. Still we will pose a challenge to the big guns this time.?

The club has signed on as many as nine Nepalese players based in Siliguri, along with former Nepal-based coach Prabhakar Mukhia. ?We have confidence in the new recruits and the new coach. Mukhia will be assisted by our own Naresh Chetry who is familiar with all players here,? Boro said.

?The new recruits are experienced and are adapting to the conditions here fast. With time, they can make a deadly combination,? outgoing coach Bidhan Das said. Das is set to join OIL next month.

The club will also miss the services of seasoned forward Padum Rabha who has joined Royal Sports Club.