MALAPPURAM: Nearly half of the 20 players in the current state Santosh Trophy team have made heads turn with their performances in the TNIE GOAL inter-collegiate tournament over the past five years. The New Indian Express has provided an all Kerala platform for the footballers. And how!
As the sixth edition - GOAL 2017 - kicks off at the Malappuram District Sports Council Stadium, Kottappadi, on Sunday, a fresh batch of promising youngsters will look for their time under the sun during the two-week event. Prestige laced tag of the champion college football team in Kerala and a glittering TNIE-ONGC Trophy await the winner among the 24 teams.
Minister for Industries, Sports and Youth Affairs A C Moideen will inaugurate the football fiesta at 4 pm after which Transport Minister A K Saseendran will symbolically kick the tournament off. Malappuram MLA P Ubaidulla will also be present. Approved by the Kerala Football Association, the tournament carries a cash prize of `2 lakh for the champion team while the runners-up will receive `50,000.
TVS Motor Company is the presenting partner while ONGC is the trophy partner with Vodafone, Indian Oil, Coir Board and Coca-Cola associating with GOAL 2017 in varying capacities. The opening and final matches will be live on Asianet Cable Vision. Individual brilliance also stands to be honoured with as many as 10 awards up for grabs. Each winner will get a TVS Apache RTR series motorcycle. The tournament is being played in a knock-out format under floodlights with local favourites MES College, Mambad, taking on U C College, Aluva in the opening fixture.