Football in Hyderabad

Football in Hyderabad

Football in India is one of the most popular sports at the domestic level. Crowds like 70,000 to 100,000 can be frequently observed at a match being played in any part of India, especially in Kerala and Bengal. Football is an enigma for all those who are ardent follower of this game. A recorded crowd of 131,000 flocked to the Yuba Bharti Krirangan, also known as the Salt Lake Stadium in Calcutta, in 1997 July to witness the KBL-Federation Cup semifinal between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Exciting crowds are often seen cheering in the support of their favorite teams. There are several smaller football centers in Goa, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. A crowd numbering to 25,000 to 35,000 is often seen during the important matches. Today the most popular clubs that play football are East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Salgaocar, Mohammedan Sporting, Dempo Goa, JCT, and F.C. Kochin. Hyderabad City Police was a very popular club in its earlier days. It holds a recorded of winning several matches and was cheered by its supporters in huge numbers.

Due to lack of modern facilities, today football, although retains its popularity in several parts of the country, has failed miserably to prove its international standards. It is not regarded as a professional game in India, as other Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and West Asia. The players don't have an easy access to the gymnasiums, and none of the football clubs in India own their own stadiums. Even the well known clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have to use the grounds of the Calcutta Maidan for their practice, on a lease from the Indian Army. Traditionally football had a strong ground in Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai, which has lost its popularity today. But you can find some important matches played at Hyderabad stadiums even today.

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