Nine more footballers sign contracts with AIFF

Nine more national footballers signed their eight-month contracts with the AIFF based on a 15 per cent hike in their old salary to take the number of players who have struck deals with the federation to 26.

New Delhi: Nine more national footballers today signed their eight-month contracts with the AIFF based

on a 15 per cent hike in their old salary to take the number of players who have struck deals with the federation to 26. Rakesh Masih, Lukram James Singh, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Syed Rahim Nabi, Baldeep Singh, Jagpreet Singh, Abhishek Yadav, Sushil Kumar Singh and Baljit Sahni today signed on the dotted lines after negotiations with AIFF officials here. Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya, who renewed his contract with Churchill Brothers after the end of 2009-10 I-League season, did not turn up today and is expected to sign the papers tomorrow. Churchill Brothers defender Gouramangi Singh, who was supposed to leave tomorrow for Australia for a two-week trial with new A-League side Melbourne Heart FC, will have to postpone his departure by a couple of days due to a delay in his visa processing and is also expected to meet the AIFF officials tomorrow. "Nine players signed their contracts today and all of them will get their salary on the basis of 15 per cent hike. Arindam did not come today he will be here tomorrow," AIFF vice-president Subrata Dutta, one of the officials who handled the contract issue, said. Yesterday, 17 footballers, including captain Bhaichung Bhutia, signed their contracts with the AIFF with the players who recently struck deals with new clubs with increased pay packages getting almost the new amount while others got 15 per cent hike to their old salary. East Bengal captain Syed Rahim Nabi was a happy man after signing the contract. "I am happy that the contract issue has been settled. I am happy with the 15 per cent hike," he said. A select 30 players will be given contract by the AIFF with 15 per cent hike in their existing salaries with their clubs on pro-rata basis for eight months. They will train under national coach Bob Houghton exclusively for the January 7-29 Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar. Striker Sunil Chhetri does not need a contract with the AIFF as he is with Major League Soccer side Kansas City Wizards while number one goalkeeper Subrata Pal`s contract with the federation will depend on his trial with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which will debut in the MLS next season. Captain Bhaichung Bhutia had said the players were satisfied with their contracts and patted the AIFF for taking the initiative to sort out the tricky issue. "The players are happy with their contracts. It is a good sign that the AIFF was trying to see that no player is in loss," he said. PTI