Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
The business of football
|
The launch of `Viva Kerala', the State's new professional club, and the strong return of FC Kochin offer fresh hope for Kerala football. Kochi gave the country its first professional club and now the city's business bigwigs have set another fine example, says STAN RAYAN.
|
BACK FROM THE WILDERNESS... After keeping its fans guessing for a long time, FC Kochin provided a few answers at the recent Royal Challenge Kerala league. Photo by Mahesh Harilal
WHEN KOCHI'S business bigwigs sit together to rinse through their daily agenda at the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry, they discuss more than just trade and commerce these days. They talk a lot of sport too.
Some of the city's leading businessmen, including the KCCI president V. M. Liaquat Ali and former chief P. Bhaskaran, have launched a professional football club. And for a State starved of quality football fare for a couple of years now, the new moves have come like manna from heaven.
After the State's top two clubs, FC Kochin and State Bank of Travancore, were forced out of the National League (NFL) a couple of years ago, Kerala football appeared to be plumbing new depths and at a quick pace too. The State has been doing well in the Santosh Trophy but the Senior National is just a kid's league when compared to the glamorous NFL.
"It will take years for our clubs to come back to the National League. We've lost a big chance," moaned the desperados when the two Kerala giants were relegated from the NFL.
And these sad sentiments moved Kochi's business honchos into action. "We wanted to do something to change the dismal football scene in Kerala. We know how it hurts all of us to see the National League without a team from our State. That's the reason for forming this club, which will also be a private limited company," said Mr. Ali, who was the chief of the Kerala Bridge Association a few years ago.
And with 15 directors, including a few NRIs, finance does not seem to be a problem. "We will be running the club from our own funds. We will not be going after any sponsors, at least till we reach the National League. And we plan to have our own ground soon," said Mr Bhaskaran, the former KCCI chief.
The first few moves have sent expectations soaring. And suddenly, after all the setbacks, Kerala football appears to be betting back on track, thanks to men who literally rule the State's commercial capital.
"Yes, Kerala football is recovering very fast. And since FC Kochin has also made a superb comeback at the recent State league, the scene should be looking bright in a couple of years," said T. K. Chathunny after taking over as coach of the new club, Viva Kerala.
"The more the merrier. Like Goa, we should have many more professional clubs in Kerala. That will make our State stronger and our league more competitive," says Mr. Chathunny who has coached many top Indian clubs, including Salgaocar, Churchill Brothers, Dempo, Mohun Bagan and FC Kochin, to major triumphs.
T.K. Chathunny.
They call him the coach with the magic touch, but Mr. Chathunni reminds you that he is also known as the `travelling coach'. And his visiting card names at least a dozen clubs he had been involved with earlier, either as a player or coach, in a sporting career spanning four decades. "Sure, Viva Kerala will be a big challenge. The directors' goal is to win the National League in four or five years, if everything is planned and executed properly, if the players are paid on time and motivated properly, God willing, the goal is achievable," said Mr. Chathunny.
Nearly seventy per cent of the players are likely to be from Kerala. Mr. Chathunny and Peethambaran, who has helped Kerala to some memorable Santosh Trophy performances, have observed and identified talented players from recent State tournaments and camps.
"We will also have an open trial. The selected players will then have a simple medical test and a test of shooting skill before the final team is picked. We should be having our first camp by the end of March," said Mr. Chathunny.
The FC Kochin experience should offer some good lessons for Viva Kerala, feels Mr. Chathunny. "We should always take the staircase example, take things step by step, that's how we plan to do things at Viva Kerala. Taking a giant leap often results in a big fall," says the coach who trained FC Kochin for a brief while a few years ago.
The logo is ready, the finance is flowing, the club's name has a certain rhythm to it, a certain punchy beat.
Well, it's now time to play the music. To bang the drums. Viva Kerala!
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
