Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda 
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)

Mangalore, Jul 27: The Dakshina Kannada Football Association’s effort (DKFA) to promote football in the district seems to have borne fruit with the Independence Cup, which was inaugurated on Saturday July 25.

The tournament which was inaugurated by Dr A S Rao, superintendent of police, has 130 teams participating this year.

The Independence Cup was begun on the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence in 1997.  The association had planned to popularize football in all schools of the district. 

The first Independence Cup saw 25 teams and over 12 years this number has increased to 130. 

D M Aslam, president, DKFA said, “It’s a revolution. The schools and colleges in the district prepare their teams only for the Independence Cup. This has helped the teams use it as a platform to move on to state-level tournaments also”.

The finals will be held on Saturday August 15. More than five matches will be held each day.

Aslam said that the problem was with the stadium. “The only stadium in the city is adjacent to the Nehru Maidan and is misused by the city corporation. It has caused great inconvenience to the association. This is proof of the city corporation’s negligence of football. When permission is given for various events to be held on the stadium, it involves digging up of the ground for erecting the pandal etc.”, he said angrily.

Aslam added that the stadium including Nehru Maidan and service bus stand was meant only for the use of sports and games activities but has been misused by the city corporation and the district administration.

“We had plans for a turf stadium but even if this is done, the very next day an event organizer will get permission for some programme and start digging it”, added Aslam.   

Teams representing higher primary, high school, pre-university, and degree classes from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts are participating in the tournament and this includes four girls’ teams.

Also an activist, Aslam made the players participate in a rally opposing the extension of the Mangalore-Bangalore train to Kannur. The rally got wide coverage as nearly a thousand football-playing students participated in it.

“The rally was organized by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), but the participation of these players made it more relevant”, added Aslam.

He further said that the introduction of the Mangalore-Bangalore train had helped these players participate in more matches outside the district, as train travel is the cheapest and most comfortable means of transport for players. 

The association is marking 37 years of its registration with the State Football Association. Right from the start, it has been engaged in introducing more players. 

The association has got guidance from several powerful players including Ahmed Master, Ramachadra Bengre, Palli Jayarama Shetty, and S K Amin. The association has been conducting tournaments in memory of these patrons each year. 

Now, the association has Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi as patron and former Mayor Ganesh Hosabettu as its honourary president.