Football action is back

This has been the case from December 19 when an exclusive camp began under the overall supervision of the rejuvenated and born-again Andhra Pradesh Football Association (APFA).

The Association has done well by hiring the services of proven former and incumbent coaches from Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) to monitor the progress of the players, who are set to embark on a career jump.

The players are participating in the gruelling training-cum-selection camp with the hope of making it to the State squad that is to take part in the ensuing Santosh Trophy.

Earlier, Saturda’s regimen began after the players and coaches observed a two-minute silence for L Venkatram Reddy, the former secretary of APOA, who passed away in the city on Friday.

The South Pool competition of the symbol of domestic football supremacy will be hosted in Chennai from January 24 to February 2.

The scene at Gymkhana has been best described by veteran stopper-back and current DSDO of Hyderabad A Aleem Khan, who opined that a festive-like atmosphere has pervaded the ground.

Indeed, such a scene was amiss for over a decade now, thanks to the absence of any top grade football activity and the fracas in the almost rudderless APFA.

It is almost after a gap of ten years that a full-throttle selection is being organised in the city. Coaches John Victor and M Hari are marshalling the resources and testing their abilities.

In contention are players from various institutions and clubs, including State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), South Central Railway (SCR), AGORC, CCOB, Shastri Soccer Club, Bolaram Sporting Club and Hyderabad Sporting Club. The camp will be enlarged when players from the districts report by Monday.

It is a good augury that employers like SBH and AGORC have been recruiting football players under the sports quota, despite the upheavals. While SBH appointed eight footballers this fiscal, the latter has roped in four, which serve as the perfect incentive to the budding players to stay focussed on the job.

According to John Victor, “we put them through various drills to improve their ball control and timing of passing in the morning while the evening session is dedicated to practice matches so that they get into competitive gear and peak at the appropriate time. As the chief coach, my task is to spot the best of the lot because they will carry the State’s responsibilities in the premier championship.”

Asserting that the probables were brimming with confidence, which gives hope of a decent showing in Chennai, SAAP coach Hari opines,

“The ambience is brilliant and motivational for the players, which has been missing for a very long time.”

In a couple of days, the number would be short-listed to around 30 who will then undergo strenuous advanced coaching and conditioning before the final squad is announced.

The task, though, is not as easy because South is a tough proposition as it features heavyweights like Kerala and Tamil Nadu in addition to

Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar and Pondicherry. Aleem Khan is quite pragmatic when he reasons that South pool is the toughest in the country and it will be an uphill task for Hyderabad to lock horns with seasoned campaigners.

“It is too early to assess the potentialities and comment on how the team will perform. But one thing is for sure, talent is available in abundance, all it needs is encouragement. We are doing our best to provide them with that,” he said, while praising APFA President Dr Rafath Ali for providing the impetus to take the sport forward.

With old warhorses at the helm, one gets reassured that Andhra Pradesh football is in safe hands. It also gives credence to the belief that once the league structure commences and players get to parade their skills with more regularity, the quest to regain erstwhile glory would be tenable and meaningful. For now, the onus is on APFA.