Rangoon team all face axe without league win

Saturday, 11 September 2010 00:41 Salai Han Thar San

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The father of Rangoon United’s owner, Tay Za, gave an ultimatum to the team that included coaches and managers that they will all be sacked if they fail to win the Burma National League championship this season.

“Yes, it’s true. Club owner Tay Za issued a special warning to the entire team to win the BNL trophy this year. We must win the upcoming match against Okktha [United],” team manager Aung Kyaw Lwin told Mizzima.

After poor results in the last three matches, Tay Za warned the team that they need not play for the club owner, actually his son Pye Phyo Tay Za, but must play energetically for the people of Rangoon Division and would need to win all remaining matches in the Burma National League.

Tay Za, his companies, mainly the Htoo Group, and family members are on United States, European and Australian targeted sanctions lists because their dealings provide economic support to Burma’s repressive regime. They are also banned from travelling to the US. The junta also in May granted him and other cronies banking licences, with which he has set up the Asia Green Bank.

Rangoon had made goalless draws with Southern Burma United and Kanbawza teams on August 29 and September 4 respectively. But the situation worsened in the Max Cement Cup knockout tournament when they lost 2-0, again against Southern Burma, on Wednesday, leaving them out of contention.

Tay Za blamed the players, managers and coaches for the team’s inability to give its fans satisfaction.

“The pressure is being put on us so we can win in the closing matches. Since the inception of the BNL tournament, we planned to win the trophy. We’ll try hard to win all the remaining matches to get this trophy,” Aung Kyaw Lwin said.

Rangoon has seven matches to finish off the season as they face Okktha United, Manaw Myay, Zwekapin Untied, Magway, defending champion Yadanabon, Zeyar Shwe Myay and Delta United.

The current standing of Rangoon United in MNL is fourth and eight points away from top team Yadanabon, who have won the national championship two years in a row since its inception.

“Though Rangoon has eight points less than the top team, they’ve played one match less. So if they win in next match, the difference will be only five points. If they beat Yadanabon, the difference will be reduced to only two points. Football is an unpredictable game so the chance of winning the BNL trophy by Rangoon team can’t be ruled out,” a Rangoon fan said.

Aung Kyaw Lwin said 500 million Kyat was spent on building the team for this season, including construction of its training ground and buying players.