TFA shield back to revive lost glory

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The Tamil Nadu Association Shield, which had fallen into a slumber for donkey’s years, is back.

The TFA Shield, a prominent fixture in the annals of state football of yesteryear, is set for revival when the 16-team all-India tournament gets underway at the Nehru Stadium on Friday. The All-India Malayalees Association (AIMA) are the title sponsors of the 10-day knockout tournament.

Of the 16, six outstation teams — Pune FC (U-19), RCF Kapurthala, Southern United (Bengaluru), KSEB (Kerala), Football Academy Namthang (Sikkim) and Kerala Police, seven CFA senior division league teams — Customs, AGORC, ICF, Indian Bank, Southern Railway, SAI and TN Police, two district teams — Tiruchirapalli DFA and Thiruvellore DFA, and the President’s XI will be vying for top honours. Besides the shield, the winners would walk away with a cheque of `1 lakh while the runners-up get richer by Rs 75,000.

Former Indian player Syed Sabir Pasha welcomed the resurgence of the TFA Shield. The Indian Bank manager, who led the Tamil Nadu team into the final of the Santosh Trophy after a gap of 40 years, has fond memories from the erstwhile editions.

“Lack of tournaments have always hurt Tamil Nadu football. It’s high time that the local players get the desired exposure. This tournament is an ideal platform for Santosh Trophy aspirants to showcase their mettle.

District players, in particular, stand to benefit, as they would be competing against tougher opponents,” said Sabir. “I am confident that fans would turn out in droves to watch quality football churned out by our boys as well as some first-rate away teams.”

When asked what the TFA Shield meant to him, ICF’s former player and present coach P. Thulasi made a jolly good walk down the memory lane. “During those days, a football player’s calendar was packed.

As soon as the league season got over, there was Vittal Trophy followed by Champion’s Trophy and the TFA Shield. Next up was the South India Athletic Association Club-conducted Jetrol Cup.

Then we would have the Tiruchy Rockfort and the Neyveli trophies lined up. The busy schedule assured that the players never lost their touch,” he said.

“It would be an understatement to say that the crowds back then were overwhelming. I still remember a TFA Shield super league game when we blanked State Bank of India 3-0.

The stadium was chock-a-block with people and a majority of them were backing ICF. Even today, there are dedicated ICF fans and I hope they would be out there clearing their throats when we take the field on this weekend,” said Thulasi, who was the hat-trick hero during the SBI win.

Meanwhile, C.N. Moorthy of the Pachaiyappa’s Harrington Football Academy added his bit to the TFA Shield’s glorious past.

“At one point, the tournament was so big that even international teams from Malaysia and Sri Lanka participated. It is a good decision to revive the competition.

The organisers should promote the event in a big manner so that lots of people come and watch quality football,” said Moorthy who picked Customs as the favourites to win the tournament.

However, former Southern Railway player Sivasundaram rued the fact that only three district teams are in the fray.

“We need to give an opportunity to atleast half a dozen district teams to showcase their mettle in an all-India tournament,” he said.