Jeremiah's touch and go

NEW DELHI: Remember that towering footballer named Earnest Jeremiah who scorched the greens for East Bengal last season before fading into oblivion just after the National Football League.
First, the good news about him. He is back from his Indian 'aestivation' and has been sighted at a Mohun Bagan practice session on Saturday, according to Mohun Bagan insiders."He dropped by on his way back to his country (Nigeria) from Dhaka where he went to play for their top team Muktijoddha FC after spending the last season with East Bengal", says Debashish Dutta, who handles players' contract at Bagan.
The bad news, however follows immediately. All speculations of him donning either the red-gold or the maroon-green combine for the forthcoming season have been put aside.
He said, "Jeremiah did talk to me about a stint with us but it seems he may not be released by his Bangla club." In fact, the club seems quite content with their latest sensation, Brazilian striker Rodrigues and have also spotted Salgaocar's Akeem Abu Alem, another Nigerian. The club plans to reinforce its strikeforce before the Federation Cup that starts later this month.
On the other hand, an East Bengal official insists that "Jeremiah is back in India but he is interested in playing for Bagan." On asked why has EB been given the skip by the blazing Nigerian striker, the outfit for which he scored many a memorable goals after coming over from minnows Ever-ready as an injured Baichung Bhutia's replacement, the official offered no comment. As it is, East Bengal are happy with Mike Okoro who has come back after spending a year in lower division Polish league.
While the great maidan rivals are not coming out into the open regarding Jeremiah, the man himself may not be too eager to play in Kolkata, or even India.
Perhaps, we might have just seen the last of him.