Nabi’s contract controversy

Monday, 29. June 2009 - Pit Ruddy

Now the Calcutta Maidan has another contract controversy. This time it involves East Bengal Club and their new season captain Syed Rahim Nabi.

The dimunitive midfielder claims that last season he was promised Rs 3 Million (30 lakhs) by the club. Officials of the red-and-gold brigade are claiming that it was never 30 but rather it was Rs 2,7 Million (27 lakhs). Nabi has put forward his case as not being very conversant with English. He claims that the officials had verbally assured him 30 lakhs, but because he is not too good with his English they put down the figure as 27 lakhs!

Now that’s something which people are finding hard to digest. Even coach Subhas Bhowmick, who had a quiet word with Nabi at his own residence, is finding it to be a queer situation, “How can the entire line-up of club officials say a lie? I feel Nabi is dragging it far. Anyway, that’s a matter which the officials will have to sort out with Nabi.”

The officials are so annoyed that they have kept the door open for the midfielder. “He can find himself a new club if he wants but we are not going to pay-up that out-of-the-world 3 lakhs,” stated an important club official. For the new season Syed Rahim Nabi has been offered Rs 3,6 Million (36 lakhs) to which he has agreed. But the skipper-to-be of East Bengal  club hasn’t signed till now for the new season. He will not till that 3 lakhs is settled! Infact his signing will be held up for some time now as the footballer is away in Dubai and then Barcelona for the national team’s preparation for the upcoming Nehru Cup.