Churchill to Release All Foreigners!

Churchill Brothers are hoping to turn things around when the I-League resumes later this month with the signing of four new foreign players.

It was widely believed that Churchill Brothers -- yet to win a game in the I-League and now among the two bottom placed teams -- would sign two foreign players, both Syrians, as replacement for Nigerian defender Hamed Adesope and Syrian striker Ahmed Al Kaddour. The unwanted duo have already packed their bags for home, triggering off increasing speculation that even the likes of Hugo, the Portuguese midfielder, and Gabonese striker Henri Autchouet, have fallen out of favour.

Both Henri and Hugo, who share the same agent, have stopped training, leading to talk that the Portuguese-speaking duo will be deregistered to make way for fresher, and hopefully, better, players in the second leg of the I-League.

"The performance of the foreign players has not been encouraging. We will have to take some drastic steps," team boss Churchill Alemao told TOI on Wednesday.

According to sources, Churchill have established contact with a couple of Egyptian players, who are looking for a way out of the civil turmoil in Egypt. At least one player has done a star turn for Al Ahli, winning the African Champions League.

"Egypt, as we all know, is in turmoil. The domestic league has been closed and major clubs who play in the African Champions League have had to play their home matches away from home. From what we have seen (through videos), the players can be of great help to us," said the club official.

Churchill are without a win in the I-League and even the arrival of technical director Subhash Bhowmick has not been greeted with the much-needed victories. Bhowmick, who led Churchill to an amazing triumph last season, has started three training sessions a day, three times a week, with each session not exceeding more than an hour.

"We train on the ground, the gymnasium and some swimming pool sessions. The team is beginning to respond," said Bhowmick.

The imminent departure of Hugo and Henri has sparked interest elsewhere with at least one leading Goan club showing interest in the players. Initial inquiries have been made, and although they have not established contact with any of the player, Henri or Hugo landing at another Goan club, in the same season, cannot be ruled out.