Mumbai-based sports U-Mumba are compelled shelve their I-League debut plants. At least for now.
The All-India Football Federation has asked Ronnie Screwvala-owned sports business firm management to postpone their I-League trials till further notice.
U-Mumba, aspiring to join the I-League fold had made a formal request to the AIFF for a corporate entry in the I-League. As U-Mumba expected a favourable response, the AIFF had advised them to defer trials indefinitely.
U-Mumba has shared the news on their official twitter handle @UMumbaFC.
Important Announcement for all our aspirants!
Stay Tuned for further details. pic.twitter.com/DU1Xztr6KD
— U Mumba FC (@UMumbaFC) June 16, 2019
“We got over 3,500 applicants for the trials. On Sunday, the AIFF told us to wait till further notice. I have no idea what’s delaying this. We just want Mumbai to have a football team in the I-League, a team that has maximum players from the city, thereby promoting the sport. Being a new team, it will take time in putting together a squad and therefore we had requested the AIFF for permission to hold the trials early,” national daily Times of India has reported Unilazer Sports CEO Supratik Sen as saying.
According to the report, the AIFF wants to first resolve the conflict between the Indian Super League and the I-League and wants prospective I-League teams to go ahead with further planning once an amicable solution is reached.
U Mumba qualified for the Second Division League by finishing in the top ten of the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) Elite Division. But according to the newspaper report, U Mumba are only interested in fielding a team in the I-League.
Mumbai have been without a team in the I-League since Mumbai FC was disbanded in 2017.
