Football craze back among village youth

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 17

A few years ago, villagers near here were known for their love for football. Youngsters used to be crazy about the game. Football tournaments organised in rural games of various villages of this area used to draw huge crowds. But the situation has changed in the past few years and football is no more as popular among youngsters as it used to be.

Reason: Craze for cricket and other sports.

But FIFA World Cup 2018, one of the most awaited sports extravaganzas of the year, has given a new ray of hope for football lovers in the area. They believe that the event can once again popularise the sport among youth.

Youngsters remain glued to the screens of their television sets when world cup matches are broadcast. At some houses in Chakar village, a group assembles at one place to watch live streaming of matches.

“Football used to be the most popular sport among youngsters of our village and our village boasted of being one of the best football teams in the area till a few years ago. But the trend has changed in the past few years with many youths distancing themselves from football and getting attracted towards the game of cricket,” said Bootaa Singh, an elderly football lover of Chakar village, near Jagraon.

Similar is the situation in Manuke, Lakha, Bhamipura, Jattpura, Hathur, Mallha and other villages, where football used to be the first love of sportspersons. But football tournaments have almost vanished from rural games now.

“Seeing the fresh interest of football among the new generation, we hope this football world cup will help us revive this sport in the area. If the event generates some craze among the youth and some of them start playing the game, it would revive the sport in this area,” says Balwant Sandhu, a football enthusiast.

However, it remains to be seen if the event can do enough to attract youngsters towards football and generate some talent to revive this great sport in the area.