SRINAGAR: A shortage of proper football grounds and all-weather playing facilities is hindering the growth of football in Ganderbal district despite increasing interest in the sport and strong public participation in local tournaments.
Players and coaches said many of the available grounds have uneven surfaces and poor playing conditions, making regular training and competitive matches difficult, particularly during adverse weather. The district also lacks a dedicated football ground in Ganderbal town.
Young footballer Hazim Ahmad said players from his area have to travel around 5 km for practice because of the lack of a nearby football ground.
“I have to travel 5 km to practise as there is no football ground in my local area. In main Ganderbal, a need for synthetic turf will solve much of our problems. The government should pay attention and ensure proper infrastructure in Ganderbal,” he said.
Local coach Muzamill Mohmood said the district had considerable football talent, but inadequate playing facilities were limiting its development. He said he had trained several budding footballers but continued to face difficulties because of the shortage of suitable grounds.
“With better infrastructure, football culture will grow in the district, but currently only a few grounds are fit for football,” Mohmood said.
Football enthusiasts have been demanding a synthetic turf in Ganderbal town to provide players and clubs with an all-weather facility for training and competitions. They said upgrading existing grounds could also create more opportunities for players to develop their skills and enable clubs to organise tournaments more regularly.
The lack of infrastructure is compounded by the absence of a fully elected and functioning body of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association. Elections have not been held for a long period and football activities continue under interim arrangements, which stakeholders say has affected the systematic development and promotion of the sport.
Local football also faces a shortage of sponsorship, making it difficult for clubs and organisers to hold tournaments regularly and provide players with adequate facilities and support.
Qayoom Sheikh of the District Football Association Ganderbal said the absence of dedicated football grounds was restricting the association’s ability to organise competitions across the district.
“We cannot conduct tournaments regularly across the district without dedicated football fields. We need proper grounds where players can train and competitions can be held throughout the year,” Sheikh said.
Stakeholders said the growing crowds at local tournaments demonstrate strong public interest in football, but argued that the enthusiasm needs to be matched with adequate playing facilities, institutional support and sponsorship to strengthen the sport in the district.
