THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Till Seesan Selvan and Lijo Siluvacrez alighted at the Thiruvananthapuram railway station on Tuesday, the duo thought they would be mobbed by a frenzied crowd unable to contain the euphoria of Kerala’s Santosh Trophy win.
Seesan was the team’s vice-captain, Lijo its trusted defender. Hailing from the sleepy coastal village of Pozhiyoor, the two had played a stellar role in breaking the 14-year jinx as Kerala notched up their sixth national title. Though Santosh Trophy no longer holds the glamour it once had, winning it is still counted as a big accomplishment. Naturally, the young footballers thought either the Thiruvananthapuram District Football Association (TDFA) officials or the fans would accord them a hearty welcome at the railway station. But nothing of that sort happened. With none to receive them, they got down to anonymity, and then went home on their own, lamenting “there is no honour even for winning”.
The duo first went to their rented room near Palayam church to drop their kit, and then managed to hitch a ride to Pozhiyoor. “It was a bad experience,” Seesan said. “We expected a decent welcome at the railway station, but there was nothing. The officials of the district association didn’t even bother to call us on phone. We imagined that crackers would be burst and drums played, but we got down to an atmosphere of eerie silence.”
Though this was Seesan’s fourth Santosh Trophy appearance, he said the district football association never appreciated his efforts.“Even when I was included in the squad or while returning from the tournament, TDFA officials never contacted me to convey their greetings. This time, because we’d won, I thought there will be a change. I was wrong,” he said.
Lijo was also pained by the snub. “Honours should come as and when needed. What’s the purpose of according a welcome a week after you have arrived?” he asked. Maintaining that they were raising this topic before the public so that it doesn’t get repeated, Lijo said his club-mates at SMRT Kollengode have apologised to them for not being able to receive them in style.
“They said they were planning to arrange a felicitation programme for us later and,hence, couldn’t afford a welcome. That’s understandable. But what about the football administrators?” he asked.S Geevarghese, the secretary of TDFA, said they did not organise an official welcome as the state government was to hold a grand programme on Friday.
“It’s inappropriate to felicitate the players before the state government’s official function. Other district associations might have done that, but since we are functioning from the capital city, we don’t want to be seen bypassing the state government. We will arrange a felicitation programme for the players on Saturday,” Geevarghese said.
The duo was least amused by the justification and was left wondering what was wrong in according a simple welcome to the players who had won laurels for the state.