ANOTHER INDIAN TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 152, 29 June 1935, Page 14

ANOTHER INDIAN TOUR

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

PROPOSALS CONSIDERED

Proposals by the New Zealand Football Association for a tour of the Do- i minion by an. Indian football team were ] discussed with Mr. P. Gupta, a member j of the Indian Football Association, who i is visiting Wellington as one of the ( managers of the Indian hockey team, j at a meeting of the council of the ] ] association last- evening. < I The conditions of the proposed tour are that the New Zealand Football Association should pay -all and take all, and pay all the costs of assembling and outfitting the team, which would consist of sixteen players and a manager, arid also that the tour should, be one of' six weeks, two matches being played seach week.: Mr; Gupta assured the members of , the council that he .would do his best j to carry out the,proposals, and if they 'were not accepted by the Indian Foot- , ball Association, he would undertake the responsibility of bringing a team to the ' Dominion. He,"was expressing his personal views, .taut he was sure that the y proposals would be welcomed in India without reservation. •* Mr. B. L. Salmon presided, and there ' were, also present Messrs. H. H. Renai, ' AY E. Caisley, H. L. Godber, and A. Williams (secretary). i ' !Tlie chairman welcomed Mr. Gupta £ as a fellow-sportsman; t and said he ' was present, to tell the council of the c chances of getting art Indian football c team to tour New Zealand. The coun- 1 cil had been trying to get a team from ■* England vMth out .success, and the report on the proposed Indian'tour had ( received favourable consideration. The f tour would be-in-the interests of the j game in Iridia arid New Zealand. t Mr. Godber expressed the hope that the negotiations for a team would be ( successful. The team would do a great ( deal. of good in the Dominion. <. "What I am going to say is entirely | my own views on the subject, as I ■. have not consulted the Indian Foot- „ ball-Association," said Mr. Gupta. "I " assure; you I will) do. my best to ' materialise the proposals." . E ! India would like to send a team to New Zealand or -to any other country, * for the players realised the. importance Jj of overseas tours, said.Mr. Gupta. He J was sure that when he went back to ' India the New Zealand proposal would be welcomed without any reservation. 1 Mr. Gupta .'suggested that if an < itinerary for the tour' was. arranged, it. would be best.to send the team in the first or second week."in July, to play in August and September. The Indian .clubs 'could release players in July, but if the 'games were played in that month it would affect the Indian Association's main competitions. "If the Indian ■ Football Association ' states: that it does not want to send a team I could make a counter- i proposal -that the whole responsibility of the team is mine,", said Mr. Gupta. "If the .Indian Association is not interested in the tour, I assure you I can [ bring a team." There was a possibility that New Zealand might have to wait until 1937 for a tour, as it had been suggested that a team should be sent to .the Olympic Games in Berlin in ,1936. Ifshouldbe made clear that the1 team should be a purely Indian side with an Indian manager, continued Mr. Gupta. This was an excellent idea from a gate-money point of view. After referring to the standard of play in India, Mr. Gupta said that if the grounds were dry the Indian team would not have a Chance, of being beaten. ■ > f, .... . I Mr. Caisley * welcomed Mr." Gupta4 on behalf of the referees, and ex-, pressed his pleasure at the .fact that 1 Mr. Gupta had irefereed a game at Christchurch. Arrangements wouldprobably be made to have Mr. Gupta appointed an honorary referee. j