Football losing out in Doon

rajugusain

Football losing out in Doon

Raju Gusain
Dehra Dun, February 16

One of the major centers of Indian Football, the sports presently is going through a lean phase. Lack of infrastructure, support system for players and
sports politics have taken its toll to make things miserable.

The two decades spanning from 1950 belonged to the Doon football. The Army teams, posted here at that period, in particular boosted the standard of the game with their splendid performances at the national level
tournaments. Some of the India's famous players were from Dehra Dun including Shyam Thapa, Ram Bahadur, Bir Bahadur, Ratan Thapa, to mention a few.

The 48th Gorkhas, based here at that time, hogged the limelight by securing runners up place at the DCM Football Tournament (New Delhi) for three consecutive years, 1950, 51 & 52.

Another army outfit, the Gorkha Brigade became a toast of the football fans in the country by winning the Durand Cup in 1966 and 1969.This impressive
performances gave mass popularity to football in the Doon valley.

Keeping this winning streak at the junior level, local Gorkha Military School gave memorable performances by lifting the Subroto Cup title in 1964. While, the Gorkha Boys Company claimed the Subroto Cup three times in 1969, 70 and 72. But now football in the state capital is facing the hard test of changing time.

Commenting on the possible ways to revive the fortune of the game here country's legendary football striker of yesteryears Shyam Thapa said, "The State Government should start a football academy in which professional
coaches should be hired. A committee of old players should be established for providing technical guidance and administration of football in Dehra Dun."

"Old players should leave behind their egos and contribute in the development of the game," Shyam appealed. He was speaking to HT over phone line from Katmandu.

The government is also there to be blamed for the decline, as there is not even a single properly maintained ground in Uttaranchal's capital. Indicating this a former international player Ranjit Thapa says, "The Pavilion Ground is in total shambles. The State Government should do something to renovate
this historic playfield that has produced many international players. This step will bring glamour back in football."

The football culture, in the past, was made possible because of the support system provided by the Army. Comparing old time with the present system Col Dhan Bahadur Thapa (Retd) rues, "Talented sportsmen used to get easy recruitment in the Army when the Gorkha Brigade was posted here. The Brigade was shifted to Shillong in the mid 70s and it gave a major jolt to
local football. I feel the Army has a key role to play in bringing old glories of Doon football back."

Besides poor infrastructure and player's welfare schemes, the sports politics is also there to be blamed for the decline. The dispute over the Dehra Dun
District Football Association is yet to get solved.

Though a district league is organised here but with every passing year the incidents of indiscipline by players is on the increase.

Hindustan Times
February 17, 2005
New Delhi (Late city edition)

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