“In Football everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team” -Jean Paul Sartr
Malappuram,known as the ‘Mecca’ of Indian football. In Malappuram every local masses Love to football.The local people there studied the first step of football from British soldiers by the time they keep the anti-imperialist mind in their heart. They receive only the game and refuse the other customs and culture of the invasions. It means the anti-imperialist mind and love to the football.
In the late 19th century, the British wanted to build bridges with the agitating local masses. Football helped them to achieve the closest relationship among them. Malappuram was one of the centers of the British soldiers after the regime of Malabar riot. The people used Kottappadi ground used to play football. They had developed their own indigenous football made of plantain stem and coconut leaves before starting to play with the original ball. Finally, the ‘football mania’ reaches to the every one.
During the festive time the freshly harvested paddy fields, the dry field and the sandal soil are not an obstacles for the football lovers. They utilize the maximum possibilities to use for football ground. They used the school ground and the seashore to the football. Now football tournament organization committees set up the stadium by using the bamboo and Areca nut plants to form huge galleries. Also it converted in to fludlit stadiums, to play upto night. Besides of the Kottappadi ground football played in Manjeri, Klari, Kondotty, and Edavanna. Many famous football clubs help to conduct football tournament in villages. Overall this action helps to grow the popularity of football in Malappuram. Royal Manjeri, Parappur sevens, Parappanangadi Avukhadharkutty Naha Memorial, Edavanna Seethihaji Memorial, etc are the famous football tournaments during the sevens period. The ancient and modern history of Indian football is bound with many famous players from Malappuram. Former Pakistan football team captain and coach Irumbankutty played for Royal India. Tamil Nadu police team player Bullet Chotta Saidalavi, Pokker, Kunjikka, and Mysore states golie Manjakkadan Aboobacker etc are the famous players from the Malappuram District. Malappuram gave portion to Kerala team for Santhosh Trophy. In 1972 Chekku, Koppilan Aali, Sattar and Ramesh, are famous football players.
Now the recent Santhosh trophy younger players grew the sevens soil of Malappuram. Ubaidulla, Sharafali, Jabir, T.Asif Saheer, Shabeerali, Jaseer Karanath. They up and arise the history of Malappuram football.
But in the case of sevens football there is no law recognition of Federation of International Football Association (FIFA). District Football Association (DFA) does not approved this Football Match. Where famous Kerala football players are playing in this match, it is a public secret. During the sevens season foreign players who enter the stadium for our local team .Especially, they coming from Africa and other third world countries.
Yes football is the celebration of folk masses goes to the mind of the world football. The history of Malappuram football is entirely different from Indian football.
They survive, now is the expression of the survival of the fittest face of Indian football.They break the rule of FIFA and make a football riot. Thus they write the picture and sing the music of wild football.
