KOCHI: The future of a large number of volleyball players from Kerala plying their trade in neighbouring Tamil Nadu is in limbo after the Tamil Nadu State Volleyball Association (TNSVA) decided to ban players from other states from participating in the tournaments conducted by them.
In the TNSVA's General Body Meeting held recently, a decision was taken on this regard that players from other states will not be allowed to participate in any tournament conducted by the association with immediate effect.
As many as 29 volleyball players who have represented Kerala and other districts in various age levels are currently enrolled in educational institutions across Tamil Nadu. Chennai's Jeppiaar Engineering College and SRM Institute of Science and Technology have six Kerala girls each in their sides while Sri Krishna Arts and Science College, Coimbatore and Sree Saraswathi Thyagaraja College, Pollachi have four men each in theirs.
"For years, players from Kerala have made their presence felt in Tamil Nadu volleyball and represented the state in tournaments including the nationals. This unjust decision is a huge blow to many who have enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in TN and whose careers more or less depends on the opportunities they get during their 3-4 years stay there," said E K Kishore Kumar, former India international volleyball player.
It is notable that the TNSVA has taken such an unprecedented decision at a time when Jerome Vinith C and Muthusamy who hail from Tamil Nadu are part of the Kerala state team and clubs like KSEB and BPCL show no qualms over picking players from other states including TN.
Protests from colleges and universities who already had players admitted under sports quota has forced TNSA to issue a circular on Tuesday stating that it will allow colleges, universities and clubs to register two outstation players each to participate in tournaments this year.
"We were asked by district associations to not allow these players as the local players were finding it difficult to get chances. In order to protect the interest of our players, we found it necessary to take this decision," TNSVA general secretary A K Chithraipandian told Express.
"This year, we will allow two students each to participate if they are enrolled in the college or university and produce a NOC from their respective state associations. But the complete ban will come into effect from next season onwards," he added.
"We have players from Kerala, Andhra and Maharashtra studying in the first and second years who will have their careers wasted now. At least, the association should have given them a few years' time so that they could complete their studies or transfer to other states,"
said the volleyball coach of a prominent college.
"We have been representing the college and playing in the nationals for the last couple of years. But our participation will be limited to just college tournaments now. This will adversely affect our careers and our search for a job," said a player from Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai.
"TN is a state where a lot of colleges offer free education for athletes. Players who are mostly from poor background go there to study as well as look after their playing career. If TNSVA's decision stands, these colleges will stop supporting volleyball and the players will suffer as a result," said Kishore.