MUMBAI, December 12: Uncertainity looms large over the future of the Super League matches conducted by the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA), following some differing viewpoints of its officials.

While trouble has been brewing between some of the officials for sometime, the matter has now come out in the open following the start of the Super League. The League, which includes six top-ranking teams of the Harwood League -- the qualifying phase -- ran into rough weather after the inclusion of the seventh team. The addition was done, allegedly by the general secretary of MDFA Commander Kehar Singh, without any committee meeting of the governing body. This has lead to animosity between him and other members of MDFA, who were not party to the decision.

The team in question here is Central Railway Mumbai Division (CRMD), which has been included in the League even though they failed to qualify from the Harwood League. An attempt was made to rope in Rhino Sports Club tooto take the total number of teams in the League to eight. But Rhino coach Chandrakant Wandre declined the offer.

Most of the other teams participating in the League have also shown displeasure over the inclusion of an extra team. Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Chembur English have refused to play CRMD. ONGC had even handed over a written protest on Tuesday. Infact, one of the teams Naval Dockyard, did not turn up for their match against CRMD which was scheduled for December 10.

Most MDFA officials are supporting the protesting teams and have questioned the validity of the revised rule put down by Commander Singh, as it was not a ``democratic one''.

The Commander, however, was firm in his stance. In a telephonic conversation with Express Newsline, he said: ``There is no such rule that only six teams can play in the Super League. We can accomodate eight teams.''

When reminded of the increased financial burden on MDFA, Commander Singh pointed out to a new format for the League. According to this, there will be a knock-out round between the first and the eighth team, the second and the seventh and so on. And the remaining four teams will then play in a round-robin format. If that is considered, then Naval Dockyard, Holy Family and Royal Caterers are already out of the League after losing their inaugural encounters. Presently, the league is being played in one-play-all format with seven teams.

When quizzed about the other teams' unwillingness to play the seventh team, Commander Singh said, ``If a team does not arrive for its match, the team present (at the ground) will be given a walkover. If none of the other teams' are ready to play, then I won't mind declaring the seventh team (CRMD) winner.''

With the officials at loggerheads, the sword of Damocles hangs over the league and it remains to be seen when and how the warring factions find a solution.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.