Guwahati, July 1: Radial Club, Nagaon is now getting ready to make a foray into the national arena, participating in the second division I-League in the season ahead, after annexing the Assam State Premier League football tournament title in their maiden appearance.

Confirming the development, forest minister Rakibul Hussain, who is the general secretary of the club, today told The Telegraph that the club management was preparing the team to participate in the second division league.

“We are trying to meet the necessary criteria. I hope we will be able to participate in the league this time. Our boys are upbeat having won the ASPL title beating strong opponents like Oil India FC, Green Valley SC and ASEB (Assam State Electricity Board) SC in our very first appearance and we want to capitalise on the spirit and make a national mark,” Hussain said.

On the club’s preparation, Hussain said, “We are retaining our foreign players and are going to sign a couple of more quality overseas players. We are in contact with a few of them in Calcutta and other parts of the country.”

“We are giving the best accommodation and compensation which our financial strength permits to our players and it is a result of this that our players are delivering. We will try to make things even better for them in the near future,” the minister-organiser said.

“As for the coach, we have a very experienced coach in Subir Dey. And to meet the I-League criterion of A Licensed coach, we have talked to a Bengal coach and are going to Calcutta shortly to sign him up,” he added.

“We are also signing a qualified physiotherapist from Calcutta for the team,” Hussain added.

About participation in the AIFF's annual season opener Federation Cup tournament, Hussain said: “We are yet to take a call on it. We will try to participate if possible.” The Assam Football Association (AFA) has stipulated that the ASPL champion team would be eligible to represent the state in the Federation Cup after it came under severe criticism over promoting clubs to play in the tournament.

This is the first time a club from the central Assam town of Nagaon, 120km from here, is trying to make the cut into an elite national tournament like that of the I-League.

Radial Club had earlier put up a mediocre show in national-level tournaments like the Independence Day Cup on their home turf at Nurul Amin Stadium, Nagaon.

“I appreciate the club management for making the efforts to raise a professional team from Nagaon. I am told that the club has a sound financial as well as logistic support and, thus, I am sure, they can live upto the expectation of their supporters,” Assam Football Association secretary, Ankur Dutta, said.