If things go as per plan, Kozhikode will host the District Schools Football League this year as a prelude to the State Schools League. And here is something more for football buffs to cheer about. There will be home and away matches in the tourney, just like in international soccer league championships.
According to the officials with the Kozhikode District Football Association (KDFA), as many as 20 schools will participate in DSFL, a firstof- its-kind initiative to boost the sport in the region. The match format, which has been prepared as per the senior club football league, is expected to drawn a good number of spectators in the football frenzy city. The Kozhikode Division School League will begin on November 1.
KDFA secretary Haridas P says that they have received entries from more than 30 schools and have confirmed the participation of 20 schools, including Malabar Christian College Higher Secondary School, St. Joseph’s Boy’s Higher Secondary School and Zamorins HSS.
“Definitely, this will boost the game”, says Haridas. Any school in the district, which has a well-maintained football ground and a coach who possesses ‘D’ licence in coaching, can apply for the entry. “However, we have made some relaxations in the norms. Schools which can provide public grounds as their home ground can also apply.
Many schools lack ‘D’ licence coaches as physical education teachers manage all the sports and hence a relaxation has been issued on this matter too, says Haridas. KDFA feels that the number of schools participating in the championship may go up by the next year’s league onwards, he says. The champion school of the district league will get an opportunity to play in the state-level league and win a prize money of Rs 10,000.
The team which wins the state championship will get a sum of `1 lakh as prize money. The league championship assumes significance as India has entered the competition to host the 2017 Under- 17 Football World Cup. Players born between 2000-2001 can attend the league matches. V
ision Kerala, launched with the support of Asian Football Confederation by the All-India Football Federation, was a success as the matches between many teams had drawn a good participation of spectators. From this inspiration, KFA officials chalked out a plan of schools league. The districtlevel matches have commenced in Ernakulam district and the league matches will commence in other districts by November. “The fixture of the championship will be ready by next week. The KDFA officials are engaged in this process, says Haridas.