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  City leagues light up football scenario
03 Jul 2008
 

July 3, 2008 (Football): Simultaneous announcement by Orissa Football Association and Bhubaneswar Athletic Association for the conduct of the city leagues later this month has providing a bit of illumination to the murky scenario of football in Orissa. According to BAA football secretary Debanand Mohanty, the Bhubaneswar League will begin from the last week of July. ````The schedule and other details will be worked out in a meeting to be held on Sunday,```` he said. But with OFA secretary M A Alam announcing identical date for the commencement of the Cuttack League, the possibility of a clash between the two leagues has created confusion. Alam, however, dispelled the doubt that Cuttack League, one of the oldest and longest event in the football calendar of the State, might not see the day-light this year. ````We had a problem with the venue as the Barabati Stadium is now being renovated. But in the meantime, we have arranged several alternative venues, including Reserve Police ground, Bidanasi ground and Ravenshaw College ground to start the league by the end of July,```` the OFA secretary stated. ````We will complete the league by September and the champion team will be eligible to represent Orissa in the Federation Cup. The top two sides of the league will also get direct entry in the Kalinga Cup All-India Tournament,```` he added.

 

Besides lack of suitable grounds and clash of dates, dwindling interest of teams has posed another threat for city football leagues. In Bhubaneswar, the league has been reduced to a knock-out contest due to paucity of teams. Though the Capital City is the home of scores of government and corporate establishements, only a few have their own football team. And establishments fielding teams in the league do not bother to complete their engagements if they lose a few match in the beginning. The case is the same with the private clubs. BAA also does not make any serious effort to attract more teams. Generally, the association sends a release to the press and expects that the media would rope in teams for the league. Last year, 12 teams vied for the title in the Bhubaneswar League, which was over in two weeks. Most matches were knock-out affairs, which belied the very concept of the league.

  The case of Cuttack League is no better. Once known as the most passionate and regular sporting event of the state, it has now being played mostly for academic interest. With OFA functioning without elections for over a decade, the biggest sufferer has been the Cuttack League. Hopefully, officials of both the bodies will not let this year``s leagues to be conducted as mere academic events.
   
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