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| Kathmandu Friday April 12, 2002 Chaitra 30, 2058. |
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Obermann’s
donation sparks controversy
Post Report
KATHMANDU, April 11 :
Officials at the Geeta Rana-led All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) put everything
together for a day-long Football Coaching Workshop at the association’s Satdobato
complex. But to the utter dismay of the officials and 42 participants, who arrived here
from various outposts for the purpose, the programme failed to take place at all.
In a sudden change of
event, FIFA instructor Holger Obermann, who was to conduct coaching programme on various
aspects of youth football as well as to distribute footballs, changed his schedule.
Obermann, who is also
representing German Olympic Committee, instead attended a separate programme organised by
the National Sports Council (NSC) at its premises on Thursday and donated 500 pieces of
footballs.
"On Wednesday, I
realised I was about to make a diplomatic mistake by offering the stuff to Geeta Rana, who
is suspended for the time being by NSC," said Obermann.
The incident left those
at the ANFA camp at Satdobato fuming.
"This is a
premeditated move," Rana said, reacting to the incident. "In fact, NSC does not
want our ANFA to carry out programme."
Rana, recalling
Obermann’s keenness to run the programme, said that he had promised them to attend
the programme during the youth coaching seminar jointly held by ANFA and German Olympic
Committee on December 14 last year. "But NSC officials, who had a two-hour-long talks
with the German instructor, sabotaged it," she fumed.
"These people are
misusing power, which only hinders development of football in the nation," she said
adding that she followed the NSC rules and stayed away from the workshop.
Rana, was suspended by
NSC on March 4 for her offensive answer to its letter demanding explanation after she
refuted the council for not providing the Dashrath Stadium for Tribhuvan Challenge Shield
that her association was about to organise.
But Obermann denied
that he was persuaded to change his mind, insisting that he decided to offer footballs to
NSC that takes care of all football clubs including departmental teams.
"By handing over
the footballs to NSC, I understand, they will be evenly distributed to all 12
‘A’ division clubs as well as departmental clubs," Obermann said.
Speaking at the
function, First Secretary at German Embassy Klaus Desch said that the German government is
keen to extend support for the promotion of Nepali football in future. NSC
member-secretary Binod Shankar Palikhe said that the council would hold talks with the
German Embassy to send Nepali coaches for higher training in Germany. FIFA affiliated ANFA
president Ganesh Thapa was also present on the occasion. |
