Okoro issue unresolved

The impasse over Mike Okoro did not get resolved on Thursday too. The East Bengal striker, who two days ago said he hoped to play for Mohun Bagan, skipped practice for the second day running. According to Dr Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta, who visited him, the Nigerian was suffering from a bout of viral fever.

?He has said if he?s fully fit, he will come for Friday?s morning practice,? said Dr Dasgupta.

Fever is only part of the problem. The primary reason behind Okoro?s outburst against East Bengal is the fact that the club deducted 15 days? salary after he returned late from Poland in the midst of the ongoing NFL. He did not even accept this month?s cheque from the club.

While the club expects him to apologise for the damaging statement he made the other day, Okoro wants the management to pay his salary for those 15 days. It remains to be seen which party blinks first.

Beighton Cup

Muslim Institute ousted City Club (Shahjanpur) 3-0 in a Beighton Cup preliminary match at Mohun Bagan ground on Thursday. Aslam Ali (27th minute), Roshan Dung Dung (49th) and Ravi Roshan Tirkey (69th) scored for the city team.

Bengal President?s XI edged out Punjab SC 1-0, thanks to a Bhim Kumar penalty corner conversion. The day?s winners will clash on Friday.

Basketball

Calcutta Port Trust (CPT) edged out 1923 Chhatra Samity 73-65 in the semi-final of the WBBA knockout basketball championships on Thursday. Sandip Arya top-scored for CPT with 31 points.

TODAY IN SPORT

HOCKEY: Beighton Cup, preliminary round: Calcutta Port Trust vs Bengal President?s XI (CC&FC, 3 pm).