MSSA officials praying for a positive outcome

MUMBAI: With the Mumbai School Sports Association’s (MSSA) 30-year lease to use the playground and office scraped by the state government and notice for immediate eviction issued, the sports body is hoping for positive outcome of the issue.

“We have spoken to officials in the sports ministry and the deputy director of sports and youth affairs, Anand Venkeshwar. We are waiting for an appointment to meet the chief minister, due to his prior commitments and hectic schedule it has not been possible. The officials are helping us solve the issue. We hope we will have a positive outcome,” said Reverend Father Jude Rodrigues, president of the MSSA.

“But we can also be evicted before we are able to sort the issue. Hope that does not happen,” said Rodrigues, adding that it would hamper the progress of sports tournaments underway.

The eviction order, dated July 27, was signed Venkeshwar’s predecessor NB Mote. Venkeshwar was not available for a comment.

The lease was granted to the MSSA by late CM Vilasrao Deshmukh in 2008 and a yearly agreement had to be signed with government. The MSSA claimed this year’s agreement and drafted a fresh agreement Subsequently, they were given the notice to evict since no agree ment was in place. If nothing works out, the MSSA will hold a protest rally on Children’s Day (November 14) at Azad Maidan

The 120-year-old MSSA, found ed by Sir Dorabji Jamshedj Tata, conducts inter-school tournaments across various disciplines including cricket tournaments Giles Shield and Harris Shield, where Sachin Tendulkar first gained recogni tion after his record-breaking unbeaten 664 run partnership