Kozhikode Corporation Stadium set to regain glory

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On January 16, 2010 Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode witnessed spectators go berserk after the floodlights went out, disrupting an I-League match between home side Viva Kerala and JCT.

A few days later, following a similar incident, the match between the home side and Air India was postponed. These incidents that occurred within a span of 12 days forced the All India Football Federation to ban the venue for night matches for the season. A few more day matches were played at the venue, but then the famed venue was excluded from national level football tourneys.

Two years after these dark events blemished the image of the beautiful game in the football frenzied region of Kerala, the venue has been spruced up, with a better grass surface and re-ignited floodlights to play host to the E. K. Nayanar Cup football tournament.

T. P. Dasan, organising committee convener of the tournament said that `60 lakh has been spent to host the tourney as part of the CPM party congress. Laying fresh turf on the ground has cost the organisers Rs 15 lakh and a temporary grand stand has also been erected for the event.

“Not everyone has forgotten those days,” said Dasan, who was also the state sports council president then. “But when we host another tourney at the same venue it is also an opportunity to regain the lost trust and we hope to make it count,” he added.

Kerala XI to play

While Viva Kerala was penalised for the sham that was unearthed at the venue two years ago, there were great expectations that the club, rechristened Chirag United Kerala, would be travelling north to play again there.

But the club management that had walked out of the venue after the heartbreak it gave them two seasons ago decided not to revisit the scene and as a result, though a national event will take place at the venue it will be devoid of a major representation from within the state.

However, the absence of Chirag will be duly compensated by the presence of Kerala XI, the state’s Santosh Trophy probable team that will, for the first time in history, play another tournament before the season kicks off.

“We travel to Kozhikode on Wednesday. The tournament is very important as it will give us an opportunity to analyse our squad’s strengths and combinations so that by the time of the Santosh Trophy, a set team will be ready,” said former international player M. M. Jacob, who has been entrusted with the job of managing the Kerala XI for the Nayanar Cup.