“Football is a great game, but unfortunately has not got its needed importance,” said Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan during the inauguration of the Hyderabad Football Academy’s (HFA) school league at the Gymkhana Grounds in Secunderabad on Wednesday.
Harking back to Hyderabad’s heyday in the sport, the State’s first citizen recalled the legendary Olympians from the historic city who graced the game, such as Noor Mohammed, Peter Thangaraj and Dhanraj. “Today it’s your turn to make an imprint,” he exhorted the young boys gathered there. Lamenting decline of sports, he said, “Unfortunately, our education system has taken such a turn that there’s no time for sports. The time has come for a re look at our entire educational curriculum. During our days, games used to be compulsory on a daily basis,” he reminisced. “What moulds a real Indian citizen is the spirit of sportsmanship. It’s the participation rather than winning. To be a human being you need to be a sportsman first,” he stressed. He urged the HFA to scout for talent in rural areas going untapped and unrecognised. “It’s time we popularise this game, especially in government schools,” he suggested, while stating corporate schools promoted elitist sports such as cricket and basketball.
“Football is considered a poor man’s game. Let me tell you it’s the best game for the amount of exercise you get. It enables you build up team spirit,” he said. The idea of passing fostered selflessness and sharing, rather than when keeping the ball to one’s self.
After the inauguration, the assembled teams were in for a treat, when they were introduced to Sandesh Jhingan, Jackichand Singh, Rino Anto and C.K. Vineeth of the Kerala Blasters, HFA’s official grassroots partner.
