Srinagar, Mar 27: Valley’s all time popular game, football, may soon be an all-weather excitement as the Union Government plans to introduce state-of-the-art astro turf stadia which would facilitate the game even during the winter which spreads over almost half the year. And the historic TRC playground in the summer Capital of Srinagar could be the first to house the facility.
 Of late, New Delhi seems to have acknowledged the popularity of football in this trouble-torn region with Union Sports Minister Ajay Makeen expressing willingness for the up-gradation of the infrastructure to make it an all season affair.
 Greater Kashmir learnt from reliable sources that during his recent visit to Kashmir, Makeen agreed to allot separate football stadia with astro turf, roofing and other requisite facilities so that weather doesn’t play a spoilsport anymore.

THE MEETING
 The development transpired during the Union Sports Minister’s meeting with his state counterpart Dr RS Chib and the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association members, particularly its president Zamir Ahmed Thakur.
 Thakur, as per the sources, told Makeen that despite being the most popular game and having produced stalwarts like yesteryear’s icon Majeed Kakroo who captained the national team, football season in Kashmir is limited to five to six months thereby affecting the talent.
 The JKFA president, who heads a 20,000 member strong association of footballers, appealed the Union Minister to introduce astro turf playfields with floodlights and roofing to promote the game.
 To the surprise of the delegates, the visiting minister replied that the centre was already aware of the problem and wanted to help out the talent.
 “He(Makeen) told that to start with the central government wanted to introduce two to three astro turf stadia with requisite facilities in Kashmir,” source privy to the meeting told Greater Kashmir.
 Makeen added that his ministry would even support the football academies all over the state, besides conduction of regular tournaments.

THE BACKCHANNELS
 Sources said the JKFA and its parent body the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had already been lobbying in the corridors of power for the upgradation of the sports infrastructure in Kashmir.
 Union Minister Praful Patel who is also the President of AIFF is learnt to have already taken up the matter with his Cabinet colleague Makeen.
 “This is why he (Makeen) had fixed an exclusive meeting with the JKFA and even asked the state’s sports minister to be present there,” the sources said.

PROPOSAL SOUGHT
 The Union Ministry for Sports has asked the JKFA to submit a detailed proposal for the upgradation of the infrastructure. The Ministry has even sought the details of the 500 odd clubs and instructors associated with the state’s football association.

TRC FACTOR
 Kashmir’s historic playfield, the TRC grounds, in the City centre has been a hub of football events. And the same ground has produced veteran footballers like Majeed Kakroo, Muhammad Shafi Naari and new faces like Ishfaq Ahmed and Meraj Din Wadoo.
 Sources said the stakeholders are looking ahead to get its roofing and astro turfing done on priority basis.

CHIB SPEAKS
 The state Minister for Youth Service and Sports, Dr R S Chib while talking to his Union Ministry counterpart, didn’t mince words to admit that football was the most popular game in the Kashmir and that cold weather played spoilsport.
 An official handout confirms this. “Keeping in view the cold climate, the facilities for training/coaching is not available during winter months due to non availability of suitable ground. He(Chib) said there is a long standing demand for establishment of Astro-Turf Football Stadium at Srinagar which may be sanctioned,” the handout said.
 “The Union Minister seemed keen for the Astro turf football stadium request and said that would be considered,” it added.
 When contacted, the Dr Chib confirmed the meeting deliberations. “Govt of India is truly wanting to help promote football because there is no doubt of it being the most popular game in Valley,” the Minister told Greater Kashmir.
 Dr Chib said the state has only one Astro-Turf Hockey Stadia in Jammu adding that in the Valley football was “traditionally very popular.”
 The state minister said he has asked Makeen to develop another astro-turf facility in the winter capital.

JKFA TO FILE PROPOSAL
 When contacted the JKFA President said the association has started formulating the detailed proposal and the same would soon be submitted before the central government.
 “Basically, our demand for the astro turf stadia and other facilities to improve the infrastructure aren’t new. We have been pressing hard for it times and again… Finally, luckily, the government responded in the much desired way,” Thakur who has captained the state’s Forest team hailed.
 Referring to the absence of corporate culture as prevails elsewhere in the country, he said the promotion of gaming activities in Kashmir were solely dependant on government resources.
 “We don’t have any big corporate houses in Kashmir that can promote football as happens elsewhere… So government resources have always been our only hope.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST