Basil Sylvester Pinto
Panaji
The Iraq squad for the AFC U-16 Championships in Goa checked into a starred resort at Cavelossim as a disgruntled, grumpy unit at around 6 am on Wednesday.
According to our reliable source, the visiting team had a wrangle with the management of the hotel not too long after having checked in with a contingent of 37 members.
To start with, they fussed on the breakfast provided by the hotel staff, and insisted that their cook flown in all the way make their meals as he would know best how to cook to suit the team. After a string of arguments, finally the hotel staff consented and allowed the Iraqi cook to make meals at lunch for the contingent in the premises, while their own kitchen also provided meals for the Iraqi guests.
It is also understood that apart from the 37 put up at the resort, there were an undisclosed number put up at another hotel. When our source was queried what could be the reason, he stated that the Iraqi contingent demanded an additional 4 rooms, apart from the 21 provided to them. It was learnt that the Iraqi contingent were clearly unhappy when told that there were no more rooms available at the resort. On Thursday, three more people joined the Iraqi contingent taking their total to 40 and they were given an additional three rooms. The Iraqis were also billed for the extra rooms but it is unclear whether the Iraqi contingent is paying from their own pocket or the organizers of the prestigious tournament underway are footing the additional bill.
Incidentally, Iraq had also made a request for a treatment table but were told it was not according to what they were told by the concerned authorities but later paid heed to their request but not to the place they wanted the provision made.
On Wednesday evening from 3 pm “ 4.30 pm, the Iraq Colts got to their first training at Nagoa that too after making a request to the ground authorities at the aforesaid place for a hand pump to fill in their footballs. When they were denied on the same, it is learnt that the hotel they were put up addressed to their dilemma within the hotel. Incidentally, the Iraq U-16 side had a training session for the same time slot at the same venue the previous day, but they had not yet arrived in the State.
It is learnt, that the hotel management had a meeting with Iraq along with Korea Republic, Malaysia and Oman, other teams pooled in their Group ‘C’ also staying in the starred South Goa hotel to put matters in the right perspective.
