The sun-drenched beaches in Thiruvananthapuram have produced some of the State’s finest footballers. But rapid urbanisation of the coastal belt and shrinking beaches have seen the numbers ebbing over the years.
When all seemed lost, out of the blue came a bunch of football enthusiasts who felt distressed about the loss of the State’s football prowess of yore and wanted to do something to bring about a sea change, if they could. Thus was formed the Kovalam Football Club, dedicated almost exclusively to nurturing football talent in the coastal region. It turned out to be the first professional club to be registered in Thiruvananthapuram. After surviving several crises, Kovalam FC has become synonymous with professional football in Thiruananthapuram. At present, there are around 250 players undergoing coaching in different age groups under the wings of the club. Several players from the club have played representative football and the current Santosh Trophy team has one player — Sajith Paulouse — who came up through the ranks of the Kovalam FC.
Efforts bear fruit
The coaching at the club is handled by qualified coaches with AFC coaching licences. The club’s city coaching centre functions from Central Stadium, where at least 80 children belonging to different age groups are given coaching during weekdays. The club has teams from under 10 to senior category. Kovalam FC competes in the Thiruvananthapuram A Division League. The efforts of the football enthusiasts shepherding the club have already begun showing good results, the latest of these being the emergence of the senior team in the second place in the Independence Cup all-India Invitation Football Tournament held recently in Bihar.
Kovalam FC offers residential facility for its trainees. A hostel that accommodates 20 students functions from a rented building at Arumanoor, close to the famous Kovalam beach. They are being supported with scholarships by the Mathew Sally Foundation. The club is building its own stadium and hostel facility near Arumanoor. “The football complex is our dream project. The club is grateful to T.J.S. Mathew and his wife, Sally, for making all this happen. When we were faced with a severe financial crunch, they came forward to help us. Their foundation provides scholarships to students and has taken the initiative for the stadium project by providing the necessary funds,” said Ebin Rose, former State player.
