Keeping the soccer fan hooked

Dec 27, 2011 |

Kochi

Tags:

football

Football addicts in the State had almost given up, depressingly accepting the fading stature of local club football tournaments. But, the New Year offers a chance for football buffs to witness some action.

Though Chakola Gold Trophy, Kerala Trophy, KFA Shield, Sait Nagjee Trophy, Mammen Mappillai Trophy and many prized football carnivals are no more, a few tournaments in 2012 present a ray of hope.

The G.V. Raja Trophy, the E.K. Nayanar Gold Cup and the Navy Cup are slated for the New Year and in addition, there will be I-League home matches of Chirag United Kerala. The G.V. Raja Trophy will be the first of the three, starting on January 27.

The G.V. Raja Trophy is unlikely to have the participation of I-League teams, which will certainly be a loss, due to the busy late-season fixtures of the I-League that will have a break only between February 12 and March 24 when 20 rounds are completed.

“Though the teams are not yet finalised for the G.V. Raja Trophy, we expect several prominent second division clubs. Last year, there were SBT, Vasco Goa, Manipur XI, Mohun Bagan Academy, Titanium, KSEB, Josco FC, Malabar United and J&K Bank,” said football coach S. Geevarghese, also secretary of the Thiruvananthapuram District Football Association.

The E.K. Nayanar Cup organisers are hopeful of putting up a better show when the event is shifted from Kannur to Kozhikode next year, to be held as a prelude to the CPM party congress to be held in Kozhikode in April.

“Though the dates are yet to be finalised for the E.K. Nayanar Cup, it is likely to be held in mid February in Kozhikode, so more I-League teams are likely to participate,” said P. Anil Kumar, secretary of Kerala Football Association. Last year there were seven I-League teams participating with Prayag United (formerly Chirag SC) going on to win the prize.

The Navy Cup, which was scheduled to begin in December, had to be pushed into the New Year because the football team of the Southern Naval Command could not get its affiliation to the Ernakulam District Football Association on time.

With clubs like Bhagat Soccer from Kochi and Quartz Soccer from Kozhikode getting back into the fray and the sustenance of at least a few tournaments, football fans in the State can heave a sigh of relief that their favourite sport is still alive and well.

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