Kerala   

On a mission to revive football

Kannur town is known for its expansive esplanades, the large extent of which is under the possession of the Army, as the Defence Security Corps (DSC) and the 122 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army under the Madras Regiment are stationed here.

Sports enthusiasts wish they had just a small portion of the maidans for development of sports, including football.

In the past, local football clubs had been allowed to use the grounds for holding matches. Local MP A.P. Abdullakutty took the initiative to express the idea to Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony during his visit to the Ezhimala Naval Academy project site on April 30.

In a representation to Mr. Antony, the MP said most of the grounds were under the Army and the police.

Lack of planning had deprived the people of the grounds, he added.

The Army, the police and certain Central and State Government Departments had constructed buildings at Ezhimala. The fences put up after the setting up of the DSC centre had made the grounds inaccessible to the public as well as football players, he said.

Stadium

Mr. Abdullakutty urged the DSC to construct a stadium on a six-acre land near the Military Engineering Service office and CSI Church.

The MP had discussed the proposal with DSC centre Commandant Col. Ranjith Singh. The proposed stadium could be used by the civilians and the DSC centre.

Mr. Abdullakutty said such an initiative by the DSC would help extend support to the football players. The MP said resources for the construction could be mobilised.

Funds from the State and Central agencies for sports development as well as local area development funds from the MP and MLAs could be used to fund the construction work on the stadium, he said.

Mohamed Nazeer

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