National Games 2023: Beach Football gets a shot in the arm, ready for the next plunge

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October typically witnesses beach enthusiasts flocking to the picturesque shores of Goa for an idyllic holiday. However, this year, with Goa hosting the 37th National Games, the Colva beach in South Goa is also captivating tourists with a display of Beach Football action.

While Beach Football remains on the fringes of mainstream sports in India, it has shown significant growth in the country over the years. States without a coastline have even fielded teams to participate in the National Games.

Organisers believe that this not only encourages young talents to embrace Beach Football as a profession but also positions the sport beyond a recreational activity. Playing football on the beach demands speed, agility, and quick thinking.

The eight teams participating in the National Games comprise coastal states like Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Odisha, and non-coastal states such as Delhi, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Punjab.

For states like Delhi, which lack beaches, the challenge is evident. "As we all know, there is no beach in Delhi. One needs to travel to Mumbai or Goa for proper practice sessions, which is also not possible every time. However, that said, the players are extremely professional and passionate about this sport, and we are here to make a difference," said Delhi team manager Mohammed Naeem.

He is hopeful that the All India Football Federation's proposal to build a beach football facility at the Nehru Stadium in Delhi will materialize soon. Jharkhand, another non-coastal state, has been training on regular ground. Despite the absence of beach training, the team is eager to showcase their footballing skills in the National Games.

"It is a huge learning curve for all the team members, including myself. We want to show everyone that a non-coastal state like Jharkhand can also excel in a sport like beach football," said Jharkhand coach Mohammed Farid Khan.

Kerala and Lakshadweep, both coastal states, exhibit a natural passion for Beach Football due to their numerous beaches. Coaches in these states emphasize the sport's growth potential in India, given its structure and appeal.

The Union Territory of Lakshadweep aspires to reach the semifinals, even though they started training together only in early October. The popularity of beach football is rapidly rising in Kerala and Lakshadweep, fueled by their natural surroundings.

Coaches from these states suggest that it's time for the All India Football Federation to actively promote beach football across the country. They aim to see an Indian team participating in the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup and believe the sport has the potential to thrive further with the right grassroots programs.

"I have been coaching this side since the 1st Beach Football Nationals conducted by the All India Football Federation in Surat last year. We performed well there and have a strong team in Goa this time around," said Kerala coach Sashin Chandran.

Talking about the popularity of 7-a-side beach football in Kerala, Chandran pointed out that 10 out of 14 districts in Kerala are dotted with beaches and there is no dearth of excitement among youngsters to take up this sport and excel.

"Given the number of beaches we have in our state, we take this sport very seriously. Many footballers take an active interest in both the 5-a-side and 7-a-side formats and there is a surge in popularity for sure," Lakshadweep coach Ahmed Rashid said.

Both Chandran and Rashid insisted that the time is ripe for the AIFF to actively promote beach football across the country. "It is heartening to see that so many non-coastal states like Delhi, Jharkhand, Punjab, and even Uttarakhand have fielded teams and this goes on to show the rising popularity of this sport. This (National Games) is a historic event for all of us," Chandran said.

"The goal is to see an Indian team participating in the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup and we can do it, given there are so many talented footballers who know the nitty gritty of this format. The AIFF must take necessary steps to ensure beach football grows in this country and more and more youngsters take an active interest in it," Rashid concluded.

The participation of non-coastal states like Delhi, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Uttarakhand in the National Games underscores the sport's growing popularity. This event marks a historic moment, and they emphasize the need for the AIFF to boost the development of beach football in India to inspire more youngsters to engage in this exciting format.