Malappuram; The Heartland of Football

How many people would see a football match between two District level teams? Hundred, you would say? Or maybe two hundred? You could well be right - if the match were to be played anywhere in India, other than in Malappuram (Kerala). Malappuram is the homeland of former international Moideenkutty, Mampad Rehman, Akbar Ali, C Ubaid, U Sharaf Ali, C Jabir, Habeeb Rehman. The number of players from this district having represented the state of Kerala is close to 500.

On a pleasant Friday evening at Manjeri, over 5,000 men, young and old, watched, ASC Areacode taking on MES Mampad in the 'A' Division football league championship match from the sideline of Government BHSS Ground. This tournament is known as the “CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OF MALAPPURAM”. Team Participation in this tournament is a regional feeling of the people, so that many matches end in brick-batting.

"I was hardly surprised to see such a big crowd," says OK Javeed, the gifted striker who scored two goals for Mampad’s victory. "Such is the passion for football to the people of Malappuram district. ‘Though I have played on many big grounds, in India and abroad, I have never come across such passionate crowds anywhere else."
And it isn’t just local heroes like Javeed that the football fans of Malappuram adore. You have to visit the district during the Football World Cup matches to see how devoted they are to the game.
Big banners supporting Brazil, Argentina, Holland or Germany would be there all over the district, and people would reschedule their lifestyles according to the telecast schedule of the matches.

During the “CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OF MALAPPURAM” the football fans have been switching off their television sets in the evenings to go to the Government BHSS Ground in Manjeri to catch some live action (‘live' not as on television).

As Malappuram does not have a single football stadium, all the football tournaments have to be played on such school grounds or paddy fields. "We badly need a pucca stadium in Malappuram," says M Mohammed Salim, the Secretary of the Malappuram District Football Association.
Javeed says, "A stadium would be a big boost for football in the district." "Imagine the kind of crowds you would get for a Santosh Trophy in Malappuram," he adds. "The district deserves a stadium of its own! The people here adore this game and Malappuram has contributed fine players to the Kerala and Indian teams." Malappuram may lack the infrastructure, but it has its own popular ‘Sevens' football tournaments, and more new young players continue to emerge like Shameel, Firoz, Jamsheer and Ramesh.

Malappuram District League championship concluded in early February 2007.
Mampad MES emerge as champions. (Table below)