Reviving soccermania

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"Football in Kerala is not what it used to be. Until a couple a years ago, the game was regarded a people’s sport but now it has lost its popularity.” — it was with utmost regret that V.P. Chandran said these words.

Unwilling to accept the plight of club football, Chandran and his colleagues at Bhagath Soccer, a local football club in Kochi, have set out with a mission — to revive the zest for the game. As a first step they are now raising support from the public to help their club play in the senior division.

“Since our inception 15 years ago, it was the first time that we qualified to the senior division after becoming zonal champions this year. It will be easy for us if the public supports us,” adds Chandran, who is the secretary of the club.

It was with this motto that the members of the soccer club were on the streets recently, conducting a road show to raise money from the public.

“We need at least Rs 10 lakh to field a professional team in the senior division and instead of collecting the amount through sponsorships, we thought this was a good chance to promote the game. When people donate, they will have a feeling that it is their club and that is what all football clubs in the State need — to have followers,” says Chandran.

Last year, Bhagath Soccer organised a national level football tournament that had 10 participants, including Vasco Goa, which won the title. The club has conducted nearly 12 tournaments so far.

Football tactician Babu Mather says, “There was a time when numerous tournaments were played across the State, including the Chakola Gold Trophy, Kerala Trophy, KFA Shield, Sait Nagjee Trophy, Mammen Mappillai Trophy, G.V. Raja Trophy and so on. In earlier days, football clubs were familiar to every household but those days are just nostalgic now.”

“Nowadays, if at all any form of football survives, it is the sevens and unless the football associations stop penalising players for taking part in these matches and promote every form of the game, it will be hard for football to regain its popularity,” says Mather.

Furthermore, Bhagath Soccer has now planned to extend its reach by offering training at five schools in and around Kochi, including the Tripunithura Boys HS, its home ground. Coach M. Raveendran and K. Gokulan, joint secretary of the Ernakulam district football association, are imparting coaching to the children.

The popularity of football is not just Bhagath Soccer’s agenda but every club that is craving for fan support.