New Delhi: Antonio Habas had some harsh words after Inter Kashi were beaten 0-3 by Punjab FC. Indian Super League (ISL) on 20 April. Inter Kashi The manager congratulated Punjab FC after a great show with goals from Samir Zeljkovic, Effing Sangosi Jr. And Bede Osoji. But his comments about his own team raised eyebrows.“I want to congratulate Punjab FC, but I don’t want to talk about the match because Inter Kashi is in a very complicated situation with many problems in the club. I don’t want to talk about the match,” Habbas said.
“We need to talk to the club owner about the situation of players and staff, because it is impossible to compete in the ISL. That’s my answer for today.”“I am very sad about this situation, we have been fighting 100 percent since last season, and now it is possible that the players and the staff will not receive their salaries, it is impossible,” he continued.An Inter Kashi insider clarified to TimesofIndia.com that there are no financial problems within the club. Another agent told us they had no information on the matter.A club source suggested the issue Habbas is referring to could be his ongoing legal dispute with Churchill Brothers. The process has taken Inter Kashi and the Churchill brothers to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and now the Delhi High Court.
Antonio Habas. (ISL photo)
The two clubs are locked in a legal battle over last year’s I-League title. After Churchill became champion, and literally handed over the trophy, the honor was awarded to Inter Kashi after a disciplinary hearing. CAS ruled in favor of Inter Kashi, and the club was promoted to the ISL.Churchill, however, tried to get a late entry after the start of the ISL season, but his efforts were unsuccessful. The club also chose to play in the second division (now called the Indian Football League).On March 31, the AIFF accused its executive committee member and Churchill Brothers CEO Valanka Alemao of “constant pressure” to facilitate their inclusion in the ISL.The statement came a day after Valanka accused AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, vice-president NA Haras and deputy general secretary M Satyanarayan of intimidation and harassment during an executive committee meeting.Meanwhile, Inter Kashi’s first season in the ISL has, predictably, been a challenge. It took them to the third game for their first win of the season, and the loss to Punjab halted their two-game winning streak.They are eighth in the ISL points table with 11 points from nine matches played, with three victories along the way. Their next match is against North East United FC on May 2.
