PK offers to help Assam

Guwahati: Legendary footballer P.K. Banerjee on Monday offered to help Assam Football Association (AFA) develop football in the state, ?which has enough potential but lacks in grooming?. Addressing a gathering at the AFA office here, the former Indian Olympic team captain said he was always ready to help Assam ?as it is my second home. I cherish memories of winning Santosh Trophy here twice ? once as the Bengal captain in Nagaon and again as railways captain in Guwahati?. ?You can call me any time. I will be at your service. I would like to help your coaches and players prepare a strong team for the forthcoming National Games in Guwahati,? the 68-year-old first Padmashree recipient footballer said. He lamented the declining standard of football in the state, which had once produced quality players like Talimeren Ao. Banerjee was here to attend a programme organised by the AFA to felicitate him for being selected for the FIFA Centennial Award, 2005. Adviser to the chief minister, Robin Bordoloi, AFA president Hemen Brahma, secretary Ankur Dutta, senior-most vice-president Nripendra Narayan Singha and veteran sports personalities Pulin Das, Pulak Lahiri and Suren Ram Phookun attended the programme. The former Indian coach appealed for the re-introduction of sports in schools and colleges. ?Sports, particularly football and hockey, have vanished from the educational institutes, which is an alarming trend in the country,? he said. The sports columnist appealed to the media as well as the football lovers to convince urban youths to take up football or hockey instead of cricket or tennis as their career. Banerjee will interact with Assam coaches and footballers at the AFA office at 11 am on Tuesday and drop in at the Assam Olympic Association office later.

ACA meeting on Indo-Pak tie

Guwahati: The Assam Cricket Association?s governing body will convene an emergent meeting on Tuesday to discuss a request by District Sports Association, Silchar, for organising a goodwill exhibition match between India and Pakistan in Silchar.

Media cricket

Guwahati: The seventh Gauhati Press Club inter-media cricket tournament will be played at Latasil ground here from March 1 to 14. Altogether 14 teams will participate in the tournament. The teams have been divided into four groups for the 20 overs-a-side league phase from March 1 to 9. The 25 overs-a-side semi-finals will be played on March 11 and 12 and the final on March 14. Photo journalists will play Janambhumi and Prag will meet Janasadharan on the first day.

Anant Joshi visit

Guwahati: Orthopaedic surgeon and chief sports medicine consultant to the BCCI, Anant Joshi, will visit Tinsukia-based Life Line Hospital on March 19 and 20. Interested sportspersons and others can consult him on both days.

Guwahati beat Jorhat

Guwahati: Guwahati blanked Jorhat 11-0 in their first tie of the Khirid Baruah trophy senior inter-district football meet in Golaghat on Monday. Nitu Narzary scored five goals and Digen Das two. Nayachananda Daimari, Lakhan Goyari, Arun Daimari and Rahajuddin Ahmed scored one goal apiece.

Martial arts

Guwahati: The 21st all-Assam all-styles martial arts competition will be organised by Chinese Shaolin Kung-Fu club of Dhekiajuli Tea Estate under the banner of All Assam (Chinese Martial Arts) Kung-Fu Association from March 11-13 at Dhekiajuli Te ground in Sonitpur district.

Final meet

Guwahati: The last match of the second Debabrata Banerjee trophy GSA second division football league between Sporting Union Club and Nabajyoti Club will be played at SAI Newfield ground here on March 6.