KOCHI: The state's only international stadium, the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here, may be in the limelight now because of cricket. But the fact is, the late K Karunakaran and his love for football was the inspiration behind its creation.
The Chief Minister then, Karunakaran was the chief guest for the Santosh Trophy final at the Maharaja's College stadium on March 2 in 1993. In front of a boisterous home audience, with a majority of the spectators seated on makeshift galleries made of bamboo, Kerala played attractive football to win the title for the third time beating Maharashtra 20. At the prize distribution function, an elated Leader declared that when the Santosh Trophy comes to Kochi next time, it will be played at a new stadium of international standards.
He kept his promise. After getting the requisite clearances, the Nehru Stadium, with a capacity of 50,000, was constructed in a record time of just oneyear and inaugurated in 1996. The first international event, however, was the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament in 1997. But when the Santosh Trophy returned to Kochi in 2005, it was indeed played at the venue, the fourth largest stadium in the country.
"Karunakaran was delighted that Kerala had won," remembered TA Jafar, the Kerala coach on that fateful day in Kochi.
"He was a great football fan and it was his determination that gave us the new stadium," added former international and the current Ernakulam District Football Association secretary CC Jacob. Karunakaran weathered opposition from several quarters to see the project through in quick time.
"Had it not been for Karunakaran, the Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium in Kochi wouldn't be a reality," recalled Antony Isaac, former chairman of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) which owns the stadium.
"When a decision was taken for constructing the stadium there were differences of opinion about the location. First they thought it can be at Tripunithura. Later, the current location was chosen. There was a PWD warehouse at that spot. Karunakaran took the initiative to remove the warehouse from there. The place was chosen as it is centrally connected with other parts of the state. The stadium became a reality only because of Karunakaran's will power and strong decision. His major concern about the stadium was not having a roof," Antony Isaac said.