MALAPPURAM: The District Sports Council has prepared a comprehensive plan to make Malappuram a football hub by connecting eight stadiums situated in various parts of the district. The Rs 500 crore proposal has been submitted to the government to be included in the upcoming comprehensive sports policy of the state.
“The plan is to develop and convert stadiums in Malappuram, Areekode, Nilambur, Perinthalmanna, Kott-akkal, Tirur, Ponnani and Calicut University into international standards to attract national and international events apart from nurturing local football talent,” said A. Sree-kumar, member and former president of the council. According to the plan, each stadium will have a pavillion with a 25,000 seating capacity, training facility, dressing room, 25 metre swimming pool and rest room.
The plan has estimated Rs 50 crore for the development of each stadium. According to the plan a local stadium adjacent to these proposed eight will also be developed with more infrastructural facilities for training purposes. The plan has also put forward suggestions for the further development of the district’s largest football stadium in Payyanadu near Manjeri.
The stadium had hosted the Federation Cup national football tournament in 2014. “We have high hopes in the project which will be a boost for football in the district that is often called as the Mecca of football in Kerala,” said K. Surendran, president of the District Football Association.
