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| CM kick starts Santosh Trophy | | | Early Times Reporter
Srinagar | May 25
Exactly a hundred years after the introduction of the game of Football in Kashmir by educationist Tyndale Biscoe, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today inaugurated the Santosh Trophy at Bakshi Stadium here, first time in 30 years in J&K.
The inaugural match was played between the teams of J&K and Pondichery.
A large number of people was present in the stadium to witness the match. Among the notable persons present on the occasion were Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Haji Nisar Ali, Economic Advisor to Government and Chairman J&K Bank, Dr. Haseeb Drabu, Chief Secretary, B. R. Kundal, Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mehboob Iqbal, Commissioner/Secretary Higher Education, K. M. Wani and functionaries of J&K Sports Council.
As Adil Qadri scored the first goal from J&K Team, the spectators greeted it with jubilation and cheers.
The championship would be played for 22 days at different venues in Srinagar and Jammu. In all, 31 States and Union territories have confirmed participation in the championship. As many as 620 players would be playing 52 matches slated to be played at four venues. The maximum number of 39 matches would be played at Bakshi Stadium and Polo-Ground in Srinagar while 13 at M. A. Stadium and GGM Science College, Jammu.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister expressed pleasures on holding of the national football event in the state after a span of 30 years. The Santosh Trophy was first time held in J&K in 1978. He said during the past three decades the state witnessed many highs and lows and the holding of Santosh Trophy now was a matter of satisfaction for the people of the state in general and sports lowers in particular.
The Chief Minister thanked the President, Indian Football Federation and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Priyaranjan Das Munshi for their interest and support in holding the mega event in J&K. He said they assured full support for organizing the prestigious national championship in the state. He said that the State government had come forward to provide all assistance for successfully holding the championship. He said the government provided Rs 3 crore for the championship, adding the holding of the event had realized the dream of the J&K Sports Council and the lovers of the Football sport in the state.
The Chief Minister hoped that the game of Football would again establish itself in Jammu and Kashmir and recalled the times when thousands of people would converge on the playing fields to witness a football match between top teams of the valley. He hoped that the teams participating in the tournament would play with the spirit of the game and come again to play here. He said he was sure that the participating players from other states would return with fond memories and carry the message of peace from here.
The Chief Minister witnessed the inaugural match up to the half time. The J&K team was leading by 2-0 till the half time. He was also introduced to the players of the participating teams.
Earlier, the Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Haji Nisar Ali gave details about the championship. He hoped that in the years to come, the State would host more national sports events.
Football game was born in Kashmir in 1895-96 when the founder of the Mission School, Tyndale Biscoe introduced it in his school and it took him almost a decade before it was actually initiated in 1908. Friends Club, J&K Police, Eidgah Club and Sericulture Department teams were some of the top local teams of the State during 1920-40. A famous wrestler, Habib Kado is credited with sponsoring the first football match in Kashmir while the S.P. College team was the first football team of the Valley to play outside the state in 1932 at Lahore. The first State football team for participation in the national championship for Santosh Trophy was sent to Assam in 1964. |
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