A blow for Tamil Nadu

November 20, 2011 02:24 am | Updated 02:24 am IST - CHENNAI:

What old-timers had feared has happened to Tamil Nadu football. After missing the bus with regard to Vision India project, there was hope that the Memorandum of Understanding that TFA signed in March this year with a professional sports management body, Futfire Sports Company set up by Shaji Prabhakaran would once again help in focussing on the development of the sport in the state from grassroots level.

That was promise and hope after the signing ceremony was conducted in the city with lot of fanfare. But as it happened, the understanding did not last beyond 40 days! Speaking to The Hindu from New Delhi, Mr Prabhakaran who has closed down his Futfire company after he was appointed FIFA development officer, said “that the occasion proved a big disappointment in the end.”

“What hurt me even more was that this was the second failure for me dealing with Tamil Nadu football. Earlier the Vision India project went out of the State when I was the Director of the project and now this has also gone the same route,” he said.

Prabhakaran said right from the beginning he felt a lack of cohesion in the Association affairs. Differences of opinions were too many. But it was hoped then that things would fall in place once the work began. However, nothing happened for, aside from the suggestions that were being given from the company's side, nothing was forthcoming from the State association, he said. “It was unfortunate that things should have ended in such disappointment,” he said.

Prabhakaran has now put the sad episode behind him even as he looks ahead as the FIFA development officer for this region in Asia. Effectively he would be the vital link between the Federation and the world body. He hopes to see more development activities not only in terms of football standards but infrastructure as well in the seasons to come.

Meanwhile, with a paid General Secretary, as per the new constitution that TFA had adopted, still to be a reality there seems to the feeling that TFA administration had suffered much. “Where to from here?,” is the worry of veteran football administrators.

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