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It's been raining goals in Chennai

By S.R. Suryanarayan

CHENNAI JUNE 14. Goals and more goals. The preliminary phase of the ongoing senior women's National football championship witnessed a deluge of goals, 131 in 18 matches.

More the merrier, it is said, but beyond a point it portrays a different picture. Contests are lopsided and hence a reflection of poor standards among some states. Indeed, it was a pity to witness the show of Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh and Rajasthan, which together conceded 94 goals.

It is doubtful if the Associations in these states have done any organised effort to develop the talent. To that extent allowing such states to participate in the national proper only dilutes the playing standards and make a mockery of a serious competition.

It is time the All India Football Federation takes note of such woefully ill-equipped states, pull up the concerned Associations and explore ways so that footballers in these states do not suffer for want of a helping hand. Also, in such situations where there is a huge gap in terms of quality, the AIFF could think of zonal-level competition as a qualifying round prior to National championship.

This will ensure that the National championship retains a certain seriousness and sanctity. True, the number of participants will then come down but the championship will be better off in terms of standards, the key requirement to bolster women's football.

An inkling of the kind of competition one can expect in the quarterfinal league starting on Sunday can be had from the attitude of just one team — holder Manipur. The team arrived two days ago and despite being travel-weary, its first priority was to find a ground for practice. Eight times champion and without eight of its key players (all in the Indian team which participated in the Asian Championship in Bangkok) this time, Manipur's concern is understandable.

Meanwhile all is set for the second phase with runner-up Orissa and Bihar already here. West Bengal is scheduled to reach on Saturday night.

The eight survivors of the first phase, Goa, Karnataka, Assam, Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and UP, against the best four of the previous Championship, that is the crux of the second phase, which will stretch till June 20.

The quarterfinal groupings:

Group I: Manipur, Karnataka, Punjab; Group II: Orissa, Goa, Kerala; Group III: Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu; Group IV: West Bengal, Assam, UP.

Sunday's matches: Manipur vs Karnataka (2.45 p.m.), Orissa vs Goa (4.30 p.m.).

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