DANISH TARIQ
Football is considered as famous game around the world, Kashmir valley has thousands of football enthusiasts playing at state and national levels but lack of football grounds and academies always disappointed the football players. In September 2013 major step was taken to establish football academy in Ushkuraarea of north Kashmir’s Baramulla town which is not completed yet. The foundation stone of the academy was laid by the than Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The academy was set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation(JKSPDC)
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“We are in dire need of football academy in the town because our football players are participating on state and national levels, but they don’t have any ground or academy for practice. In 2013 70 Kanals of land was figured out for the establishment of football academy unfortunately after the foundation stone was laid no further work started on the academy,” said Manager Sabar United Football Club, Showkat Hussain. He further added recently in 2018 former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti directed the officials to start work on completion of football academy but no heed was paid to directions it will be “dream come true” if football academy will be established here.
Mohammad Asif, under 17 national football player said, “Baramulla is renowned for producing quality football players, unfortunately we don’t have any ground where we can play football tournaments, Once the government had allotted the piece of land to establish football academy now we lost every hope that piece of land will be turned into any football academy because the project has been delayed since from last six years.” He added if a football academy will be constructed there it will be a future changing step for the football players, Doctors and engineers will not come from every home also sportspersons will come out.
We are appealing to the concerned officials and governor to take a necessary step to complete this football academy as soon as possible it will be extremely beneficial and will add brightness to the future of youths.“If JKSPDC could not handle the said project it should be handed over to JK Sports council or R&B Department Kashmir” they suggested
“The project was delayed because contractors have not negotiated at the allotted estimate after that the contracts were cancelled now fresh tenders will be issued shortly, we have sent proposal to J&K sports council for their opinion they have advised some major changes in the project which is forwarded by Chief Engineer CI&D wing Power Development Corporation to MD Jammu Kashmir State Power Development corporation (JKSPDC) and the approval is awaited, once we will get approval the fresh tenders will be issued and project will be completed with no further delay”. Said Executive Engineer PDC division Gantamulla, Baramulla.
