The East Bengal FC were left embarrassed when they had to cancel the presentation of the Costa Rican 2018 World Cup player Johnny Acosta as the Kolkata, West Bengal, India club failed to arrange an interpreter for the player.
According to India Today, Acosta, who played all the three Group E matches for Costa Rica at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, came to Kolkata two days ago and was slated to address the press for the first time on Wednesday.
“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.
India Express reports, since Acosta was not accompanied by a translator, the club officials decided to take the help of ‘Google Translator’. But unfortunately, poor network at the media center left the officials as well as newly-appointed CEO red-faced.
Johnny Acosta’s press conference cancelled as the club didn’t arrange an interpreter for the player. Height of unprofessionalism from a club who recently got a high profile investor. #QEB #EastBengal pic.twitter.com/vWrUotF3xG
— Ritabrata Banerjee (@ritabrata20) August 8, 2018
Quess East Bengal could not ensure presence of an interpreter for the intro. pc of World Cupper Johnny Acosta Zamora! Google translate was entrusted n failed miserably! presser had to be postponed… professionalism at its worst!! #EastBengal pic.twitter.com/QIkiGRvcWp
— Kashinath (@bkashi) August 8, 2018
East Bengal had the resources to buy Johnny Acosta, a Costa Rican who featured at the #WorldCup this year, but couldn’t arrange an interpreter for his interaction with the media. Excellent. #IndianFootball https://t.co/zK1hABLtzI
— Manasi Pathak (@ThatUnitedLady) August 8, 2018
Not the first media interaction Costa Rican Johnny Acosta had in mind surely with @eastbengalfc. No interpreter so no introduction
— Abhimanyu Sen (@abhimanyusen) August 8, 2018
After the first question was asked, Sen started answering on the player’s behalf to which the journalists objected. “We want him to do the talking,” said one of them and the downfall of the event started.
According to Goal.com, club ambassador Alvito D’Cumham, who is from Goa, tried his best to help with the little Portuguese he knew but could not translate accurately the two languages.
Acosta tried his best taking the help of Google Translate. But all his efforts went in vain as there was no internet connection.
Acosta was then asked to move to a different corner of the media center where there was better connectivity but most of the questions from the journalists were in Bengali, making the task of ‘Google Translator’ even more difficult.
“We will have the interaction later,” said an official and the 50-odd anxious media persons had to leave dejected.
Johnny Acosta was received by the QUESS East Bengal management at the belt section of Kolkata Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport ( Dumdum Airport ) pic.twitter.com/yUgoGEF0UO
— EAST BENGAL the REAL POWER (@EBRPFC) August 6, 2018
East Bengal meanwhile revealed that Acosta would don jersey number 2, the same number that he wore for the Costa Rica national team in Russia.
“I’m glad to be part of Indian football. It’s a new challenge for me. I’ve heard a lot about East Bengal from my agent and other friends. Hopefully, I’ll be able to help my team win trophies,” said Acosta.
