The southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka put up some fine performances. There has been an overall improvement in their showing this year.
Over the decades we saw some fine talent from the South. From Karnataka striking partners Ulganathan and Kosalram were a deadly duo. Carlton Chapman and Manoharan were purposeful. Thangaraj, Kannan, Amjad Khan, Edwin Ross, Syed Sabir Pasha from Tamil Nadu, Latifuddin, Habib, Akbar, Nayeemuddin, Amal Raj, Shabbir Ali from Andhra Pradesh, all had fine and lengthy careers for their clubs, states and the country. Going by the showing in the just concluded Nationals, one is pleased to notice the revival of soccer in these Southern States.
Kerala ofcourse has been the cradle and an important nursery for grooming quality players in our times. The dedication of those at the helm in Kerala has been exemplary. It is nice to see players from Kerala playing for various clubs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Goa, West Bengal and for teams in our national institutions in our country.
We look forward to seeing more and more quality players following the footsteps of I.M.Vijayan and his worthy predecessors from the South.
