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Santosh Trophy kicks off in Jammu and Kashmir on May 25 after a gap of 30 years. TWF correspondent Amitava Bose looks into the aspirations and hopes of those involved in getting the game to the state
The idyllic landscape, the green vales and the snow capped mountains made Kashmir paradise on earth, till one day a rattle of an automatic rifle tore open the valley placid and left it to bleed.
It has taken several years to heal the wounds, and even as blood is spilled in parts peace has rallied to find a place. So the mainstream of India national football is travelling to Jammu and Kashmir after 30 years.
None could be more excited about the whole development than Jammu and Kashmir Football Association Secretary Bashir Ahmed.
"We are extremely happy that national football is travelling to Kashmir. This signals a new beginning and hopefully the message- that the region has taken bold steps towards peace and progress- will reach across the nation after the event," Bashir said, excitement rippling in his voice.
Football is a passion in the region and Santosh Trophy will hold a new lease of life for the game in the region. It is still flooded with talents. Bilal, Wasim Feroz, Shahnaz Iqbal and Vikramjit Singh are some of the promising players from the region and hopefully they will get a chance to showcase their talents and next ply their trade for one of the big clubs in India.
But the process of finalizing the venue was not so easy. A two-member All India Football Federation (AIFF) team led by Vice-President Subrata Dutta took two reconnaissance missions to Jammu and Kashmir. The main venues would be Bakshi Stadium and Polo Ground in Srinagar and Moulana Azad Stadium and GGM Science College at Jammu.
Dutta seemed breathless about the beauty of the landscape. "It is such a beautiful place. The Bakshi Stadium has a breathtaking setting, but the ground was unkempt and untidy. We made a series of recommendations and work is going on at a war footing to complete the changes," Dutta said.
He made a series of recommendations that included renovating and giving the stadiums a complete facelift with modern amenities maintaining the FIFA recommended standards. Besides, there were issues of law and order, hotel accommodation and manpower. Manpower was divided into ball boys, local managers, flag bearers, volunteers and stretcher bearers.
While Dutta gave a clean chit to the law and order situation, the other issues were being worked on.
He said, "I had a chance to meet Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad who assured me of complete security. He said the state elections are on its way and if for nothing else he would not like anything to go awry to affect his election prospects."
"And that was a huge assurance," Dutta said.
Sports Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajendra Gupta adds, "Security is not an issue. The places have impeccable security measures. The question was whether we could complete the renovation in the venues on time and the answer is we have completed 90 percent of the job. Both the stadiums have new and modern dressing rooms, TV commentary room, press boxes and the turf has been evened out."
"People are very excited about the event. There is a constant buzzword. The government is all geared up for the event. Everything is normal here like any other part of the country. Besides, a high powered committee has been formed with the Chief Minister as its patron and chief secretary is the chairman of the committee," he adds.
Bashir Ahmed informed that 26 teams were playing the State Football Championship and the state team would be chosen from the four semi-finalists. Besides, the state's most prized exports Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Ishfaq Ahmed and Arun Malhotra have been invited to represent the state team.
The players are no less excited. Mehrajuddin, who captained the side last time, said, "I have grown up playing in Iqbal Sports Club and it will be an honour to represent the state, if it does not coincide with my national duty."
Bashir also remembers Mehraj as a young boy. "I own Iqbal sports Club and saw him as a young boy. He will surely be an important part of the team."
Mehraj recounted the childhood days when they played soccer in the streets of his hometown and then went to Iqbal Sports Club. "J&K has a serious affair with football. It is not a sport, but a passion. There are several talents and hopefully the Santosh Trophy will bring out a few of them," he said.
Bashir said only Srinagar had some 70 registered clubs and the state some 350 clubs. "Football is a passion in these parts of the country and when Santosh Trophy comes here the people of the country will see the peace and love Jammu and Kashmir can shower on the rest of the nation."
However, getting the national football to the crown of India was not so easy. The last time it was planned the soccer dreams were ripped apart by a blast that killed several tourists, mostly from West Bengal.
But AIFF Secretary Alberto Colaco is also very hopeful that the game will be a big step in taking football to the farthest corners of the country. "It was a unified decision from all concerned. And we are happy that the game is going to Kashmir."
The stage is all set. The grounds are being pruned and spruced; the dressing room set in order and the only thing that awaits the dreamy vale is the whistle to roll the ball for the next 90 minutes of pulsating high octane soccer.
(Photos by Asish Sharma)
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