Tag Archives: Amity United Football Club – Gaddehalla – Kodagu

Cut-Outs Of Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar Jr. Stand Tall In Kodagu Villages

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Excitement building among fans at Gaddehalla and Kadanga as FIFA Qatar World Cup begins today

Kushalnagar:

With the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup beginning today, the world is set again after a gap of four years to witness the biggest and the most celebrated football festival and the game fever has reached every nook and corner of the globe. The FIFA World Cup will kick off in Qatar tonight (9.30 pm) with 32 teams battling for the highest honour in the month-long international football.

While the football mania has taken the neighbouring Kerala by storm where the game is close to the hearts of the people with hundreds of clubs at small and remote villages, the hill station of Kodagu too is gaining attention with a group of football lovers from remote village of Gaddehalla erecting huge cut-outs of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. in the village, attracting attention.

The cut-outs of seven-time Ballon d’Or winner (annual football award presented by French news magazine France Football since 1956) Messi from Argentina, Portuguese legend Ronaldo and Brazil star Neymar Jr. have been erected at Gandhi Circle at Gaddehalla. While Neymar’s cut-out is 15-ft, Ronaldo’s cut-out stands tall with 30-ft in height and Messi’s cut-out too stands tall with a height of 35 to 40 feet.

Cut-out at Kadanga too

Soon after youths of Gaddehalla near Suntikoppa erected the cut-outs of their idols, youths of Kadanga, another village in Kodagu erected a 30-ft cut-out of Ronaldo near the Kadanga Bus Stand Circle. Meanwhile, the Messi Fans Association in the village too are giving a final shape to the cut-out of Lionel Messi and it will be up when the World Cup begins. One more cut-out of Messi has been set up at Suntikoppa town.

Neymar Jr. will be playing in his third World Cup and Brazil is considered one of the favourites to win the tournament. This is his best chance to come out of the shadows of his two superstar peers — Messi and Ronaldo.

“We, the members of CR7 Fans, decided to erect the cut-outs of the three legends due to the attention they are receiving. Moreover, there has been so much talk about Messi and Ronaldo who are likely playing in the World Cup for the last time. Their memories will be cherished for a long time and it is our way of honouring them,” Zayid Abbas of Amity United Football Club and a die-hard fan of Ronaldo told Star of Mysore.

R-Day Tournament

Amity United Football Club was established seven years back and the club has 40 members between the age group of 15 to 35. “We are one among the 23 registered Football Clubs in Kodagu and apart from playing regularly in our own village and in the district against other clubs, we also travel to Kerala for tournaments,” he added.

Of the seven years, the club members just played tournaments for two years and in the last five years, they have been organising tournaments for Republic Day. “In 2023, we are organising a three-day tournament on Jan. 24, 25 and 26 and it will be floodlit football. We are aiming big and we are working out plans,” Zayid Abbas said.

Players of Amity United Football Club, Gaddehalla in Kodagu. The Club has 40 members.

60 trophies to their credit

Players from Amity United Football Club have won over 60 trophies in matches held at various places. “Unfortunately, we have received no encouragement either from the Government Sports Department, District Administration or the Sports Authority. We do not even have a proper ground to play. In fact, there is no football ground for that matter in Kodagu,” he regretted.

“Kodagu has over 23 registered Football Clubs and in each club, there will be a couple of good players and we can easily have more than 100 best players who can compete in State or National level Tournaments. The best among the best can represent India internationally. It is stifling and painful to see the neglect. The focus seems to be only on cricket while other sports are brushed aside,” he added.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News Top Stories / November 20th, 2022

With 30-feet tall Ronaldo on their side, football enthusiasts in Kodagu demand ground and more

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A 30-feet-tall cutout of footballer Christiano Ronaldo is welcoming visitors to Suntikoppa.

The effigy of footballer Christiano Ronaldo installed at Suntikoppa to express the passion towards football

Madikeri :

The FIFA World Cup fever is spreading fast across Kodagu even as a magnificent cutout of footballer Christiano Ronaldo has popped up at Suntikoppa in the district. Several youngsters from the district have also signed up for voluntary work in Qatar.

However, the sports enthusiasts in the district lamented the lack of facilities and put forth their demand for a well-equipped ground.

The Ronaldo cutout is 30-feet tall and welcomes all visitors to Suntikoppa. The effigy has been raised to express the passion for the sport.

“All football fans in Gaddehalla of Suntikoppa of Christiano Ronaldo contributed for the effigy and we have spent Rs 25,000 on the same,” shared Sahid Abbas, a member of Amity United Football Club of Gaddehalla.

“The district has very good football players who have participated in several state and national championships. Our club also hosts Football Fives floodlight championships annually to promote the game and support the players. However, there is an absolute lack of facility for the sport in the district,” he added.

Ismail Kandakere, a native of the district, is an avid footballer and holds the certificate of a referee from the Karnataka State Football Association. However, he too mentioned the lack of encouragement and support for the sport.

“The district has 22 clubs registered under the Kodagu Football Association, which is under the aegis of the Karnataka Football Association. But ironically, the district does not have a single football ground,” he said.

Kandakere further explained the need for an establishment of a training facility and a football academy in the district. “But the priority requirement is a well-equipped ground,” he added.

He also said that he learnt the game on his own by studying the FIFA rulebook.

“There are many talented players in the district who have the ability to become national players. But not everyone can spend money to train themselves outside. An establishment of ground and a training centre will help support hundreds of football enthusiasts in the district,” he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport> Football> FIFA World Cup / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / November 10th, 2022