Andhra Pradesh in Santosh Trophy after four years

Hyderabad: Participation matters more than winning. It’s a philosophy cited quite often; almost everyone, from a professional sportsperson to an amateur to a casual fan would have heard this adage from their coach or a friend, at least once in his or her life.

For Andhra Pradesh footballers, these words would be their motto as they take to field to end a prolonged exile from national scene.

With the political boxing bouts that had pushed the state football into the sidelines finally coming to an end late last year with the election of a new Andhra Pradesh Football Association (APFA), AP footballers will no longer find it hard to prove they are what they say, neither to naysayers nor to potential employers.

The proof would be on their battle ground, their office, their home — a football pitch.

Andhra Pradesh, after a ‘break’ of four years, would be back in  Santosh Trophy, country’s premier inter-state tournament, when it kicks off in a few weeks’ time.

With that a long life of a pariah will come to an end. For the state footballers who would be donning the AP jersey at the tournament, participation would be a reward for all the years of toil and trouble.

The lads are now slugging out at the Gymkhana Grounds, Secunderabad, to be one among the final 20, that would be selected to represent the state at the tournament.

“This is a great moment. The state had been an outcast for many years. Finally, these players are getting a chance to show their worth,” said Shyam, coach of the State Bank of Hyderabad football team, and one of the few people who fought for the game while politicos where testing their muscles in the ring.

“Personally I am very proud as few of my lads are in the camp.”

On the difficulties the AP team would face at the tournament, Shyam says: “Of course it would be very difficult to predict a result, these boys have not played high-intensity games.

But there is no doubt that we have talent. All they lack is exposure. Even if they do not win games, they will put up a fight, and will surely make everyone proud,” he added.

Recently, SBH recruited eight footballers while Accountant General’s Office hired four others.

The camp, which began with hundred-or-so players from Hyderabad and another 30 selected from the inter-district tournament held at Adilabad, is going on at a brisk pace as the final squad has to be named by January 20 or 21 as AP’s first group match is scheduled to be held on 26.

“There are a lot of good players in the camp. We had more than 100 players at the start. After a thorough evaluation by the coaches, we have narrowed it down to 34 players.

These players would now be put to test before we name the final squad,” said G.P. Palguna, the secretary of the APFA.

“It is a great moment for the state football,” he added. The last time AP played at Santosh Trophy was in 2010 when a special committee selected the team. Prior to that, it was in 2006 that the State got a taste of the tournament.