Karnataka footballer attempts suicide, dies in hospital

Our apathy towards sportsperson resurfaced yet again. In a shocking incident on Friday night, city footballer, A Ravindran, popularly known as Velu, attempted suicide by consuming poison. He was rushed to the nearby private hospital. After battling for life in the ICU, Velu was declared dead on Saturday, July 6.

Velu was on the rolls of Controllerate of Inspection Electronics (CIL), now known as Centre for Quality Assurance of Electronics and Radar Development (CQAL & R) as a guest player. He had turned out for this team in the Bangalore District Football Division (BDFA) super division league for many seasons.

A tenth-grader Velu was frustrated with life. In his suicidal note, he had mentioned of not having a decent job and marriage. He had also alleged his former CIL coach, Shayam Shahi, for a false job promise.

Velu first represented Karnataka in 1998, later he was offered a contract job at the CIL canteen, which he left after a year.

Bangalore football in poor state

This incident again highlights the poor condition of the local footballers. Football in Bangalore is dominated by the Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) teams. These teams are cash-trapped with minimal or no budget allocated to the team. Few soccer-enthusiast officials run the show.

The better players migrate to a different club outside Bangalore, the rest settles down by playing as a guest player with meagre pay, and the frustrated ones end their life.

High time to think about the players who bring laurels to the club, state, and country. All is needed is a job security.

Officials speak

Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) officials said that the entire incident is bad for the state football. However, they stood by the former CIL coach, Shayam Shahi. Incidentally, Shahi has been associated with the game for many years in Bangalore in the capacity of a manager, coach, and football official. He has trained many footballers.

Xavier Vijaykumar, Captain, HAL:
My deepest condolences to Velu’s family! May his sould rest in peace.

I’ve played with him in the under-21 and –19 tournaments. He was a robust footballer, utility player who was accustomed to play in all positions, be it defence, mid-field, or striker.

He used to think a lot about the game and wanted to be associated with it even after retirement. It is sad that we are loosing such players.

Ateast a decent job should have prevented him from doing such an act. I am told that he was promised for some job, however, I am not going to the authenticity of this information.

Velu played for CIL for many years and also captained last season, rather that waiting here, maybe he should have looked for other opportunities, that too when he was at his prime time.

A.R. Khaleel, President, KSFA:
Paying 500-600 per month is no good, players should be paid enough so that they can lead a decent life, atleast 3000 per month.

Simple solution to this is that the government or PSU, who run their football teams should change their policy on channelizing the talents. Since 80’s funds stopped coming to these teams.

To run a football team in Bangalore, you need a minimum budget of 50 to 80 lakhs per year. When the team displays a good performance at the top-level, the mileage an organization gets is enormous; many times more than the football budget.

I could see HAL trying to manage their team professionally. Also, Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), Bangalore putting up a good effort.

Shayam Shahi, former coach, CIL and official, CIL:
Velu was hard working and was very good in speed and stamina, however, he was not a skillful player. He was ambitious but at the same time he was a short-tempered player.

Some wards told me that he was planning to end his life, however, we never paid heed to it.

When I first got the news, I could not believe it! I’ll try to help the family in my best possible capacity.

Bangalore footballers looking for greener pastures

This is what happens when you don’t have a team from Bangalore in the national level. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), who missed the second division I-League bus in the recently concluded season due to not conforming to the AIFF guidelines will soon loose some of their important players in the next season.

Thanks to their good performance in the ongoing Santosh Trophy, striker Dada Nabeel, mid-fielder Goutam Debnath, and defender Sumit Thapa are all set to join the premier division I-League clubs.

“I don’t see any problem, this was bound to happen”, says prominent football coach Andrews sir. “In this professional era, players would definitely want to earn more; this is the time for them to play and earn in a national level. They could not participate in the second divion I-League last season, and unsure about the coming season. So, I reckon this is a right decision.”

Andrews sir also adds, “Club management should look to it that their team is able to play the top-ranked national-level tournaments and ensure that their team conforms to the guidelines. Unfortunately, most of the city clubs are from the public sector, and public sector clubs functions unlike the other top-ranked football clubs”.

“Leaving HAL, I don’t see any team at par with the teams in the national scene. So you don’t really improve your game by only playing in the local league. When you go out, play in the national-level tournaments, you feel the difference, and then you raise your standard.”

HAL captain, Xaview VijayKumar opines that their team will not be weakened by the departure of these players. “We are in the process of making a good team for the coming season. Team management is working in tandem with the state and the district association to ensure our participation in the second division I-League, and I am sure we will be back with a bang in this season”.

“HAL football team is totally dependent on the sanctioned football budget. We can’t afford to pay high salary to the players, so they are bound to look for better growth.”

Asking about his own plans, Xavier says that he is very much a part of the HAL football team. “I am open to play for short stints, possibly on a loan, provided my club permits”. Xavier grins.