Football coach to leave Kashmir due to death threats

Argentine football coach Juan Marcos, who started International Football Academy Trust to train the valley's youth four years ago, has decided to leave following death threats and attacks on him over the past three months.

"I got a threatening phone call few days back. The caller said that I and my family will be killed in three days. So, I have decided to leave Kashmir," Marcos told PTI.

He said he had passed the information to the local police but they have not been cooperative.

Marcos said it all started in January when one of his dogs was mysteriously killed a couple of days before the Republic Day celebrations.

"The next day my second dog was poisoned and a couple of days later, my vehicle was vandalised and the brakes failed," he said.

Marcos claimed that the authorised service dealer for his Mahindra vehicle told him that the 'brake failure' was not accidental but a deliberate act of sabotage.

"I had come here to teach young people football but when my security and that of my family is compromised, I better leave this place," he added.

Marcos arrived in Kashmir four years ago on a short visit but decided to set up a permanent base after being impressed by the raw talent here.

He set up an academy and sent three players to Brazil for training with some leading clubs under an exchange programme which saw some upcoming players from the Brazil visiting Kashmir as well.

Sources in the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association said the threats and attacks on Marcos were handiwork of some disgruntled elements including a senior player from the valley and a local club affiliated with the Association.

"They have been carrying out a false propaganda against Marcos that he is preaching Christianity in Kashmir, which is a bundle of lies," an official of the JKFA said on condition of anonymity.