Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

Despite empty stands the game must go on

HYDERABAD: There was rhythm in the tune of the famous FIFA Fairplay played at the simple inaugural of the AFC Challenge Cup football championship at GMC Balayogi Stadium here on Wednesday. There was the very prominent slogan – Future is Asia, trying to project Asian Football Confederation in contemporary perspective. But, neither of this characteristic was evident at the venue.

But soon India chief coach Bob Houghton’s fears were confirmed as the inaugural match - Turkmenistan vs Tajikistan – was off in front of empty stands. And there was marginal relief when some of the youngsters from the vicinity slipped into the venue to have a look at the India-Afghanistan match under what was apparently perfect ambience under floodlights. Irrespective the couple of hundred spectators who were there to see the hosts script a hard-fought win may not be connoisseurs in true sense but they did lend their lung power admirably cheering the Baichung Bhutia-led Indian team.

Once again, the magnificent Gachibowli Sports Complex continues to be too far away for the sports-loving Hyderabadis. The empty stands were not just what Houghton was desperately looking for support from that section of the stadium. There were many former Hyderabad players who still believe that Lal Bahadur Stadium would have drawn much bigger crowds. But, here again it is the technical committee of the AFC which decided to shift the venue to Gachibowli and apparently in the interest of the players.

By all means, it was not the start an event of this magnitude demands. Forget all the talk of Hyderabad producing many Olympians in the past. The grim reality that now-a-days not many actually turn up at the sporting venues – cricket as always being the exception – is a sad reflection of a different subject altogether.

But as they say, the game has to go on and move forward, despite these major handicaps.

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