Days after city football giants East Bengal roped in a high-profile investor, the club's cavalier attitude came to the fore when Costa Rican World Cupper Johnny Acosta's first press briefing could not be take place for want of an interpreter.
Acosta, who featured in all three Group E matches of the recently-concluded 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, landed in the city two days back and was slated to address the media for the first time on Wednesday.
But soon after the press settled down at the East Bengal media room in the club premises and the 35-year-old defender took the hot seat, the absence of an interpreter struck one and all.
"Acosta speaks only Spanish, so please make your questions to the point so that it is easier for us to make him understand," newly-appointed club CEO Sanjit Sen said at the beginning.
After the first question was asked, Sen started answering on the player's behalf to which the scribes objected. "We want him to do the talking," said one of them and all hell broke loose.
The East Bengal bosses first tried calling former player and club official Alvito D'Cunha who speaks Portuguese due to his Goan roots, but to no avail.
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There was no internet connectivity in the media room as well, so the press conference was shifted to another room where the officials tried using Google translate.
As this attempt also failed, the briefing, which had already turned into a farce, was called off.
The officials were left with egg on their face, having to postpone the press conference to a later date.
Acosta has played 71 matches for Costa Rica and was plying his trade for Colombian premier league side Rionegro until the Russia World Cup.
Although his team failed to progress from the group stage, he was impressive against Neymar's Brazil, who required two stoppage-time goals from Coutinho and Neymar to beat them 2-0. He was also part of Costa Rica's team in the 2014 World Cup.
--IANS
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