Indian Football: Young kids dotted the streets of Assam’s Guwahati city on Sunday playing football. They were, however, not out enjoying the holiday, rather they were participating in a protest demanding a field for playing football in this largest city of the state. Over 500 footballers from across the state took part in a protest rally in the city demanding that at least a couple of fields be allowed for playing football in Guwahati. From former and current national and international level players to children with a fondness for the game participated in the protest. Follow all the Indian football updates only on InsideSport.IN
“There is not a single football field made available by the government for playing football in Guwahati anymore. As a result, coaching has nearly stopped and no tournaments are being organised in the city,” Hem Das, president of All Assam Football Players’ Association, told PTI. “Our demand is simple, we want the Nehru Stadium to be reopened for football. It should also be allowed in the Judges’ Field,” he said.
Ex-NEUFC player Durga Boro complaints about the lack of football fields in Guwahati as the previously alloted ground in Nehru Stadium is occupied by BCCI for Ranji Trophy.@90ndstoppage @sevensftbl @MarcusMergulhao pic.twitter.com/9TIrWT31wT
— Partha Sarmah (@kheltantra) February 20, 2022
Das said football was allowed in the Nehru Stadium as well as Judges’ Field through mutual understanding with cricket match organizers earlier, but for nearly two months now no football is being allowed in these two fields.
Speaking to PTI, Hemendranath Brahma, secretary of Assam Football Association (AFA), said the Association does not have any field of its own, though it has been urging the government for it over the years. He said when Nehru Stadium was being converted into a dedicated cricket ground, the AFA has asked the authorities to provide an alternate field for football, which the latter had agreed to look into.
“If the ex-players had a problem with Nehru Stadium becoming reserved for cricket, they should have objected when it was being developed,” he contended.
He also pointed out that earlier both football and cricket, including international matches, used to be played at Nehru Stadium, but it has been discontinued now. Brahma said the Association has submitted a list of 10 sites in and around Guwahati to the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare for developing as a football ground.
“We don’t have information on progress on our proposal yet, but we are assuming that the Directorate is working on it. Our training ground at Bijoynagar on the outskirts of the city is also coming up,” he added.
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