Cops, SBT resume rivalry

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After about 10 years, when the Kerala Police faced the State Bank of Travancore in the State Club Championship quarterfinal match held in Palakkad, it aroused a spell of football nostalgia and hankering for the golden age of Kerala football.

Both the clubs that once ruled football in the State and groomed several national players were at their best during the quarterfinal match. With beautiful wing play, crosses, chips, tackling and technique, the team gave the spectators their money’s worth.

The Police entered the semifinals of the championship defeating the Bank that extended to tie-breakers after a 1-1 full time score. After being defunct for the past 10 years, it was a completely revamped Police team. SBT however, played their experienced players in the match.

“It was a great match. Both teams have the same football culture in developing the game through grooming talents from the state. The match lived up to expectations,” said Shimjith the elated coach in charge of the Kerala Police.

“We are a new team and the experience was wonderful. However, it is too early to judge the team from just one tournament. We have to participate in more championships and I think that the team will become one of the best in the next one or two years,” he said.

SBT coach V.P. Shaji had the same opinion, “Both the teams played and we lost the game in a tiebreaker. It is good to see the team performing well and I hope for the best,” he said.

Both the teams were synonymous with football in the State when the department teams controlled the game. However, the introduction of professional set ups brought about a major setback for the department teams in the state as they were barred from the I-league, because of the lack of professional standards.

It is high time the department teams were given an opportunity in the league and the government should make these teams more professional. Much of the talent from Kerala is locked in clubs like these. Meanwhile the second division and top division team Chirag United Kerala are struggling to get good recruits.