Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Foot power The event has infused new lease of life in players

In this backdrop, the recent invitational seven-a-side tournament held at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in which 16 teams from Medak, Guntur and Krishna districts took part, was seen as a laudable effort as it provided the much-needed fillip to the sagging image of the game. It also gave a platform to young footballers to showcase their prowess. “The footballers are a dejected lot. No tournaments are held and players are left in the lurch. The three-day tournament organised by the Vijayawada Football Association came like a God-sent boon to the players,” said veteran football coach B. Sudhakar.

The event saw teams like the Perecherla Football Club,SAAP Football Academy from Medak, Andhra Loyola College, South Central Railway and schools like Care and Share fighting intensively for the honours.Mr. Sudhakar, who keenly watched the players in action on all three days, felt that seven-a side format, unlike the traditional 11-a-side one, needed a different game plan. “The cohesion among players in the 11-a-side format is different. In the seven-a-side format, the players should realize that their team is short of four players and they should be more active on the field besides being accurate in their long passes,” he observed.After a hard-fought on-field tussle, the Perecherla outfit outplayed SAAP Academy lads to clinch the title, but what impressed the coaches was the presence of some talented players in the Medak’s academy team. “They are young and have the potential to emerge as top-notch players. They should increase their muscle formation. Football is all about power and stronger legs are the need of the hour,” Mr. Sudhakar opined.The tournament also witnessed some of the local traders coming forward to lend a helping hand. A positive sign indeed, considering the overwhelming patronage to the country’s most obsessive game - cricket. “Most heartening gesture came from senior players and administrators. They also came forward and offered help for the success of the tournament,” said coach Pandu.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail