Santosh Trophy needs restructuring: AIFF

In a state where football tops popularity charts,it comes as a surprise that the countrys premier tournament in the sport,Santosh Trophy,is being played in front of nearly empty stands at the Yuba Bharti Krirangan....

In a state where football tops popularity charts,it comes as a surprise that the countrys premier tournament in the sport,Santosh Trophy,is being played in front of nearly empty stands at the Yuba Bharti Krirangan YBK. Its not just the spectators who are missing,top players dont participate in the tournament,as clubs refuse to release them. Even the All Indian Football Federation seems to partially agree with the fact that Santosh Trophy may have lost its relevance,as it talks about the need to overhaul the tournament.

We are very worried about the empty stands,but Santosh Trophy has to continue, says Alberto Colaco,AIFFs secretary general.

Its the only tournament that gives an opportunity to players from every state to showcase their football talent. I-League doesnt have clubs from all over the country and those who dont get a chance to play in the I-League would feel hard done by if Santosh Trophy is not there. Its a fact that players from top clubs are no longer interested in playing for their states. We need to restructure the tournament, he added.

Former Indian player Chunni Goswami,however,also feels that in its current format,the event is irrelevant. If the Santosh Trophy has to continue,it should continue as a tournament for the younger players at U-19 or U-23 level. Theres no passion for the state teams anymore. People,especially in Kolkata,support and encourage a strong club culture. In the present scenario the concept of inter-state rivalry becomes redundant. This tournament should serve to identify young talent, Goswami says.

Old-timers recall that 24 years ago,when Bengal last hosted the trophy,there was an immense demand for tickets. This time around,even free entry till the semi-final phase failed to woo the crowd. Colaco admits that at a different location,it could have been a different story.

Santosh Trophy was successful in Kashmir and Gurgaon. This time,maybe the location of the tournament has something to do with the poor turnout. Unlike Punjab or Kerala,Kolkata crowd is not interested in state football, he says.

The state association,Indian Football Association blames the AIFF for not promoting this years tournament. Theres no TV coverage. Without promotion how do you expect an event to be attractive? Still I believe things could change in the semis and final, says IFA secretary Utpal Ganguli.