The Hindu : Sport / Football : Santosh Trophy getting dribbled around

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 30, 2004

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Sport - Football

Santosh Trophy getting dribbled around

By S.R. Suryanarayan

CHENNAI, APRIL 29. The fate of the National football championship for the Santosh Trophy is unenviable. The Championship was allotted to the Kerala Association, which had scheduled to kick start the main round from May 1 in Kochi and complete it by May 15.

Then came the election announcement and Kerala is in the list of states, which go to the polls on May 10. Added to that was the spillover of the National league matches. Logistical problems were understandable in view of the elections while the extension of the NFL became inescapable in view of the pre-World Cup commitments in between.

The Kerala unit was in a quandary. Postponing the dates by a few days was unthinkable because the monsoon would have set in and no organiser would risk his money on any outdoor sports during the wet phase that should easily last three to four months. "Around November" was KFA's plea if the Championship was to be rescheduled. In fact this has raised genuine doubts if the already delayed 2003 edition would be held at all.

On one side it is difficult to blame the football administration, for who would have imagined initially that May would be the month for elections in Kerala. But certainly the AIFF should have known before hand the pre-World Cup schedule to have suitably scheduled the National Football League.

Then again, having the NFL second division programme also on simultaneously only added to the difficulties. The players suffer because they would be forced to change jerseys, put on State colours and return to the turf, when rest is what they would long for after a strenuous season. Indeed if the Federation has its way, the players are not destined for the much needed rest.

Kerala's predicament has made the AIFF Secretary, Alberto Colaco give indications to other units that if there were any takers the Federation was ready to consider.

Tamil Nadu has responded with a suggestion that could effectively save the Federation the blushes. Tamil Nadu has offered to host the 2003 edition and asked the Federation to allow Kerala to plan for the 2004-2005 edition. The benefit for Kerala is that it would then get time till next April to work on the schedule. And this would also mean the Santosh Trophy championship will not be forced to have a break.

But then realistically can it be all that easy, considering the football calendar in India, which is already over crowded. Aside from the National league, which is slotted for November-April or even May, there are the international commitments to be accommodated. So Kerala would end up once again finding dates sometime next May!

Clearly the time has finally come for AIFF to decide on the future of the Santosh Trophy championship. Any football lover would hate to see this once popular tournament reduced to a ritual.

Nor would anyone wish to see it devalued, such was the sanctity attached to the glittering trophy. But first the elections will have to end for only then can there be a meeting of the decision makers!

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