Authorities concerned need to maintain football ground at maidan

Authorities concerned need to maintain football ground at maidan

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 21, 2015:   Football Players’ Association President D S Aslam, presiding over the sports festival and blood donation camp at Nehru Maidan here on April 19, Sunday,   said that though the Football Players’ Association is putting in serious efforts on all frounts to maintain and improve the only fulfledged  football ground at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru,  authorities concerned have practically done nothing seriously to improve many matters that need attention. He implied that at the district administration and  the authorities concerned are making a regular practice of permitting many organisations and religious groups to organise programmes other than sports activities at this spot dedicated to football.

He went to point out that there is a clear rule that the ground should not be utilised for any other programmes, other than sports activities, a number of programmes including religious programmes are held regularly and the pleas by the Association go blatantly unheeded.

Appreciating services of many players who have contributed significantly to keep the football game alive in Mangaluru, Aslam said that if football is alive in Mangaluru today, it is due to a few football players and not politicians, district administration officials.

Minority Commission former chief K S Mohd Masaood,  appealed the authorities concerned as well as the corporator Lateef, who was present, to support the football players by maintaining the ground in a better way. It has become a common practice to dig the ground to lay poles for shamiyanas and construct temporary toilets repeatedly.  He also said that if the corporators and MCC take basic due interest, it would be a greatly contribute to the aims of sports.  Stressing on the importance of football and sport, entrepreneur Mansoor explained the salient points.

IRCS District Chairman B Prabhakar Shriyan called upon players and public to donate blood and said that anybody between the age 18 and 60 years with body weight more than 45 kgs can donate once in three months (four months in the case of females). He also explained the benefits of donating blood.

Health Minister U T Khader, who arrived late for the programme, spent about an hour in the ground and patiently listened to the woes of players. He also assured to look into the issues and try his best to help the players. Vice Chaiman of DK Red Cross R A Fernandes and Football Association Vice President Hussain Bolar compered the programme.  Thirtyone football players donated blood on the occasion.