Help at hand for C P Singh

Onkar Singh in Delhi

Director of the Arjuna Awardees Association of India Yashwant Singh of Alwar Tuesday said the association has not received any complaint or request from former international football player Chandreshwar Prasad Singh of Patna, who had recently gone on a hunger strike to highlight the pathetic conditons under which Arjuna awardees like him live in.

An employee of the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation, C P Singh has not been paid his wages for the last several years. He broke his fast only after state chief minister Rabri Devi said she would take up his case with the corporation.

"Chandreshwar Prasad Singh is an honourable member of our association and he has done yeoman service for Indian football. While he was the captain of the Indian football team in 1971, India had lifted the Pesta Sukan Trophy at Singapore," Yashwant Singh told rediff.com this afternoon at the office of the association in the Nehru stadium complex.

"Born on 31st of December 1944, Chandreshwar started playing football at the tender age of 15. He first played for Patna football club from 1959-1962. He represented the Patna University for two consecutive years in 1960-61. He played for the state of Bihar between 1959-63 first as a player and later in 1976 he captained the Bihar state football team in the Santosh Trophy.

"In 1964 he represented Indian Railways in the same trophy. Next year he joined East Bengal club and played for it in 1965 and later in 1972. From 1966-71 he was a member of the Mohan Bagan Club. He had the honour of captaining the club team for three years from 1969-71.

"In 1973 he became the captain of another leading football club of India Mohammedan Sporting Club. Bengal lifted the prestigous Santosh Trophy in 1971 under his captaincy," said Singh, as he spelt out details of the illustrious career of CP.

Chandreshwar also participated in two Asian Games, in Bangkok in 1966 and 1970. India finished third in the 1970 Asian Games. In 1971, he was awarded the Arjuna for his services to the nation and the game of football.

"We have noted the difficulties of C P Singh as has been reported by the media. The matter is being discussed at the highest level. Even Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has been showing keen interest in his case and we hope to do something for him very soon," said a top official of the IOA.

Minister of State for Sports Shah Nawaz Hussain promised that the government will do everything to ensure that players like C P Singh are not treated shabbily.

"We are looking into his case and we will do him justice," he promised.