All season football for Kashmir

The Valley’s all time popular game, football, may soon be an all-season excitement as the Union Government plans to introduce state-of-the-art astro turf stadia which would facilitate the game even during the winter which spreads over almost half the year. And the historic TRC playground in the summer Capital of Srinagar could be the first to house the facility.

Minister for Youth Services and Sports R S Chib recently chaired a high level meeting of officers convened to finalize the arrangements for the smooth conduct of goodwill football match between Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC), Kolkata and J&K-XI at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar and to initiate the move for laying an artificial turf (astro turf) on July 15 at Srinagar.

The event which is being organized by the J&K State Sports Council in collaboration with J&K Football Association, Department of Youth Services and Sports and All India Football Association is likely to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The Union Minister of State for Home, Jitender Singh will preside over the inaugural match. Reports say that one more football match would be played between Mohammedan Sporting Club, Kolkatta and J&K-XI at Leh on July 18 at Leh.

Chib said that Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is providing funds for the creation and up-gradation of sports infrastructure in the state, and it has already approved projects for laying of Astroturf at TRC Grounds Srinagar and the Centre has recently given a special grant of Rs4.5 crore to lay down artificial turf at TRC grounds.

Of late, New Delhi seems to have acknowledged the popularity of football in Kashmir with Union Sports Minister Ajay Makeen expressing willingness for the up-gradation of the infrastructure to make it an all season affair.

Kashmir’s historic playfield, the TRC grounds, in the City centre has been a hub of football events. A young footballer Tawseef Ahmad says that from the month of November, our activity closes down due to the snowfall and rainfall which can damage the ground. With astroturf, we can continue our practice in winters. As of now, we have to shift to Jammu in winters, which disturb the football sessions. The construction of astroturf fulfills the demand of a stadium with scientific approach.

It is said that Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has already approved a project for laying of Astroturf at TRC Grounds, Srinagar which will help in providing proper infrastructure to players for their participation in national and international sports events, besides raising the standard of football game as per international standards.Eager to channelise the energy of the youth in the valley in positive fields like sports, the Centre, the Union sports ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir government are working overtime to bring top-level football to Kashmir before the onset of Ramazan from July 20.

The last time people watched good football here was during Santosh trophy in 2008. Thereafter, the valley failed to conduct any top level sporting event.

The valley is also expected to host cricket matches with Pune Warriors. The last big cricket match was hosted in Srinagar in 1986 against Australia. “Sahara India has agreed to play in principle. Talks with it are in advance stage for the final itinerary,” the official said.