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Football dying in Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh Football Association, with its several rival factions, always created more news off the ground than on it.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: May 23, 2007 03:45 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Hyderabad:
Now an angry Andhra Pradesh government has declared it null and void. A huge fall for the state which had nine footballers in the 1956 Indian Olympic team. Today the game would seem to be dead in Andhra Pradesh.
Football lovers say this decision should have been taken long ago because infighting in the association meant the football league in the state has not taken place since 2002.
The Delhi High Court de-recognised the association in 2006 after two groups of the association went to court asking for control to run the game in the state.
"We have written a letter to the National Football Federation asking them to at least appoint an ad-hoc committee, so that the game will not suffer,'' said Murali Mohan, MD, SAAP.
Former India Captain Victor Amalraj says it is unfortunate that both the court and the national federation have taken a long time to end the crisis in the sport in Andhra Pradesh.
"Young footballers in the state are suffering a lot. There is no proper league; there are no tournaments or even inter-school tournaments. The enthusiasm is there but where is the platform for them," said Amalraj.
The state, which has produced several Olympians, does not have a single footballer in the South Zone Under-21 team now.
Former players say if the situation continues the All India Football Federation might not even accept the states entry to the National Santosh Trophy.
The Andhra Pradesh Football Association, with its several rival factions, always created more news off the ground than on it. Now an angry Andhra Pradesh government has declared it null and void. A huge fall for the state which had nine footballers in the 1956 Indian Olympic team. Today the game would seem to be dead in Andhra Pradesh.
Football lovers say this decision should have been taken long ago because infighting in the association meant the football league in the state has not taken place since 2002.
The Delhi High Court de-recognised the association in 2006 after two groups of the association went to court asking for control to run the game in the state.
"We have written a letter to the National Football Federation asking them to at least appoint an ad-hoc committee, so that the game will not suffer,'' said Murali Mohan, MD, SAAP.
Former India Captain Victor Amalraj says it is unfortunate that both the court and the national federation have taken a long time to end the crisis in the sport in Andhra Pradesh.
"Young footballers in the state are suffering a lot. There is no proper league; there are no tournaments or even inter-school tournaments. The enthusiasm is there but where is the platform for them," said Amalraj.
The state, which has produced several Olympians, does not have a single footballer in the South Zone Under-21 team now.
Former players say if the situation continues the All India Football Federation might not even accept the states entry to the National Santosh Trophy.
Topics mentioned in this article
Football
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