Pandemic strikes at passion for football in W Bengal

Football is a passion for South Dinajpur district in West Bengal. There are more than 1200 players in this district and tournaments are held both in summer and monsoon. But the COVID19 pandemic has brought all the footballing to a zilch. The effect of prolonged lockdown due to the pandemic will have a lasting impact on the emerging talent, say the local associations.

Balurghat: With lockdown prolonging for more than six months, footballing at South Dinajpur district has come to a grinding halt. For South Dinajpur, football is a passion and played during summer and monsoons as well.

From the block level to the district level, football tournaments are organized by the district sports body.

South Dinajpur has around 1200 to 1400 football players and there are 15 to 20 coaching centres also. The game is played at different age levels and there are also women teams in the district. COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdown crippled the sport completely.

The prolonged closure of grounds and coaching centres has put the football players in trouble. The Dipali Nagar, Town Club and Balurghat Stadium in Balughat are full of grass as the grounds are closed for a long time. The field has become unsuitable for playing.

Malay Karmakar, a footballer from Balurghat, said that the emerging talent will suffer a setback of at least two years due to the lockdown. "We have to accept the pandemic. But, it has affected the young emerging talent", he said.

Read: Guns, ammunitions recovered ahead of local polls in Assam

Jayabrat Dey, District Secretary, South Dinajpur District Referees Association, said, "Footballing in the district is zero at the moment. There are coaching camps in different blocks of the district. Those camps have been closed due to lockdown", he said.

There are many women's football teams in the district. "The women football teams are doing very well. The girls are representing the state and East Bengal club districts. In the current situation, we are trying to provide online training. But the ones whose main livelihood is playing football are in a lot of trouble. Football coaches are also in trouble," Dey said.

The South Dinajpur District Sports Association is giving virtual advice to keep the players fit. Gautam Goswami, former secretary of the South Dinajpur District Sports Association, said football was closed everywhere due to corona and lockdown. The long seven-month ban on football has had an impact on players and everyone involved in the profession. "As soon as we get the green signal from the All India Football Federation, we will start playing football step by step", he added.