Calcutta: The two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions are just ATK now, not Atletico de Kolkata, principal owner of the franchise Sanjiv Goenka said on the eve of the players’ draft in Mumbai.
Interestingly, even the handout — provided prior to head coach Teddy Sheringham’s first-ever media conference at a city hotel — mentioned the franchise as just ‘ATK’.
The chairman of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group re-confirmed that ATK no longer have any ties with La Liga side Atletico Madrid (ATM). Back on July 8, The Telegraph had quoted Goenka as saying: “The principle of separation between ATK and ATM is final, but the mechanics are being finalised.
“My percentage would go up to 89, with Utsav Parekh and Sourav Ganguly each having 5 per cent. Harsh Neotia will have the remaining 1 per cent… ATM had not put in any money in the first three years.
“According to the contract, ATM were to put in proportionate money (for possibly a 25 per cent stake) from the fourth year onwards, but weren’t willing to do so.”
On Saturday, Goenka said: “Atletico Madrid and ATK have come to an agreement that the Spanish giants will not be part of ATK going forward. We have had a good relationship and we continue to be friends.”
Asked about the new name of the team now that the association with ATM no longer exists, Goenka replied: “The name of the team is the name of the team. We are ATK. The full form is Atletico de Kolkata, but it’s also ‘Amar Tomar Kolkata’.”
Even though both the ISL and the I-League will be held simultaneously this year, ATK aren’t really concerned about any kind of competition with Mohun Bagan and East Bengal when it comes to the fan base.
“Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are great clubs with great legacies. We have grown up watching and idolising them… We don’t compete with anyone. ATK have their own fan base.
“Mohun Bagan is Mohun Bagan, East Bengal is East Bengal. They are Dadas, we are Bachchas.
“All I can say is wish us well. We have got the city two titles. Back us to get more,” was how Goenka put things in perspective.
ATK in all likelihood, will have their pre-season in England, while the Salt Lake Stadium is obviously their preferred venue for the home matches.
Meanwhile, the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group will award a special scholarship of Rs five lakh each to five Indian women athletes/sportspersons starting this year, Goenka announced. The deserving candidates will be selected by a committee comprising of eminent jury, to be headed by CEO Raghu Iyer.
“The Indian women’s cricket team showed what they are capable of. What they lack is resources to get proper training. We want to address this issue,” Goenka said.
