The Hindu : Problems aplenty, but a boost nonetheless

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 08, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

Problems aplenty, but a boost nonetheless

By S.R. Suryanarayan

CHENNAI JUNE 7. It has been over a decade since All India Football Federation brought women's football affairs into its fold as per a directive from the world body, FIFA. The idea was to ensure eves football was better organised and grew in stature. There is a women's World Cup competition now and an Asian championship as well, which also forms the qualifying phase for the world tourney.

But in India, football changes do not come about dramatically. That the senior women's championship, the 11th edition of which is beginning here on Sunday, does not have a trophy to go with it even now is ample testimony to the state of affairs. The pathetic situation does not end there. On the eve of the championship, the organiser, the Chennai Football Association, is still not clear if any sponsor would come forward to help it meet the Rs. 12 lakh budget it had drawn. True the AIFF would be subsidising a portion pertaining to the daily allowance for the team (Rs. 85 per member) but expenses do not end with that. But despite odds, as Renuka Lakshmi, the Tournament Director, aptly put it, "we look to this championship as a means to give women's football a boost in the State".

In fact eves football is not new to Tamil Nadu even if the national championship is coming to the State for the first time. There is an annual league conducted in Chennai even if it involved only four teams. More importantly, a few months ago, a State team had won a tournament in Aurangabad but why this creditable piece of work was not shared with the media is difficult to understand. Be that as it may, two of the State players — Shalini and Thamimunnisa — were in the national camp preparing for the AFC championship to be held in Bangkok. The national then could just be the forum for the State women footballers to earn deserving recognition.

With the best of women players away for the Bangkok tourney — 11 from Manipur, four from Goa, three from Bengal and one each from Orissa and Punjab — the competition could even out, may be, even bring about a change of equations.

But having won the championship eight times, Bengal winning the other two, Manipur's dominance is unmatched. This championship will give an insight into Manipur's depth of talent, Bengal's resilience and the challenge of tribal-rich Orissa and Bihar. Adding spice will be Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala, enough ingredients then for keen contests.

In all 19 teams are in the fray though in the preliminary league the competition will be among 15 which have been placed in four groups. Two teams qualify from each group to join the last year's top four for the quarterfinal league, to be held from June 15 to 20. The semifinals are on June 22 and the final on 24.

The groupings: Gr. A: Tripura, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka; Gr. B: Assam, Maharashtra, Delhi, Meghalaya; Gr. C: Kerala, Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana; Gr. D: Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan.

With entry free, the stadium authorities also assuring no security hurdles at the main gates, the organisers are hoping for fair attendance, even a festive atmosphere!

Sunday's matches: Tripura v Karnataka (6.30 a.m.), Goa v J and K (8.30 a.m.), Kerala v Chandigarh (4.30 p.m.).

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