KOCHI: One venue, two popular games.The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium stands gleaming.
But the dreams of football, the most popular game in Kerala, and cricket — looking to usurp the title of popularity from football, are on a collision course.
And the only remedy — an exclusive stadium for either of the two mass sports — seems to be sliding away into the distance, much like the shifting horizon.
For the moment though, the only quality venue available in the state to both is the renovated J N Stadium here.
On the one hand is football, with Kerala once being the nursery of the nation’s best talents but now a pale shadow of the past, and on the other side is cricket, having the potential to grow on a par with the elite.
Accordingly, Kerala Cricket Association — which has taken the stadium on le ase for five years from its owner, the Greater Cochin De velopment Authority – has gone ahead with preparations to host four Ranji Trophy matches this season.
The first match is slated to begin on November 10 while the last one ends on December 9.
Meanwhile, Kerala’s only I-League side, Viva Kerala (being rechristened Chirag United Kerala), is in search of a venue to hold its home games with their campaign tentatively scheduled to kick off on Oc tober 22 with an away game.
Which effectively means that there is a conflict of interest between the two.
The only way out would then be for Viva to look for alternative venues, at least for matches slotted during the period when Ranji Trophy matches are on in Kochi.
On their part, the KCA is willing to hand over the stadium for top class football matches.
However, the bottom line is the preparation for both games are different, with the wickets in the middle of the field being too significant a part of cricket to be neglected.
And hence, the desperation from the two associations to have stadiums of their own.
