When a group of boys sporting yellow jerseys gathered in a corner of the Polo ground here recently, most of them were in tears. They knew it was likely to be the last match where their football coach would be by their side. After two-and-a-half years of rigorously coaching youngsters under the voluntary football programme, Argentinian coach Juan Marcos Troia has been asked by the Central Government to leave the Valley before the month is out.

The Union Home Ministry has recently rejected the recommendations of the J-K government, seeking to allow Marcos, his Brazilian wife and three daughters to stay so that he can continue to impart training to young footballers in the Valley. The move spells the end for the voluntary football programme set up in 2007, where a thousand Kashmiri boys are registered and three teenagers have already made it to clubs in Spain and Brazil for special skills training.

When contacted by The Indian Express, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had already met the coach and has promised to help. “I have promised to take up his case with the Government of India,” he said. “I am hopeful that he will continue working here”. In fact, Abdullah had personally intervened and asked the police to give security clearance to one of the coach’s prodigies, Basharat Baba — an 18-year-old footballer selected for training with a club in Brazil. Basharat had earlier been denied a passport because his father was a militant.

On February 24, the Criminal Investigation Department of J-K Police had recommended the grant of extension of visa for Marcos and his family, and sent a reminder on September 14. Similarly, another letter seeking approval for a visa extension was sent by the J-K Government’s Home Department on July 7. And as Marcos had to leave for Spain, accompanying two of his players who are set to join a club there for advanced skill training, the J-K government again reminded the Home Ministry about his case.

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