Delayed start to NDFA’s football season this year

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE 2020-21 football season of Nagpur District Football Association (NDFA) will have a delayed start due to 
coronavirus.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought all the sporting activities in the city to a grinding halt. League matches of NDFA’s two divisions—Senior and First—were not even started when the government imposed complete lockdown in March.
NDFA had even declared the fixtures of Senior Division which was scheduled to start from March 16.
But the Janta Curfew and then the lockdown, which has been extended, forced the association to postpone the two tournaments.
With the situation still looking grim and chances of lockdown ending thinner, the two leagues, it seems, might be cancelled or may be played prior to the new season starts, in September.
“We are yet to complete the two divisions (Senior and First). We were ready with the Senior Division scheduled but it could not be started due to the lockdown,” said Iqbal Kashmiri, Secretary, Nagpur District Football Association.
“As things stands now, we may have to scrap the two meets this season. But nothing is final yet,” he added.
NDFA President Haresh Vora said the new season will be delayed. “The present situation doesn’t look good. We are yet to complete last year’s leagues. The new season will be delayed by a couple of months,” he mentioned.
Vora is still optimistic that the Senior and First Division matches would be completed in coming months.
“What we can do is start the new season with Senior and First Division matches which are part of last season. But for that we have to see first when can we start our season. The sooner the lockdown ends then only we can plan out things.
“We can start the season with these divisions and then complete the season again with the matches of the same division next year,” he remarked.
This year there will be no transfers as it was done last year itself hence much of time will be saved this year.
“That is a big plus point. We don’t have the transfers this year. So a much time is saved. We can make adjustments for those few who don’t have players in lower division,” informed Vora.
There are 20 teams in First Division which include Veer Football Club, Hansraj FC, Gouhar FC, Nagpur Star, Maverick FC, Green Flag, Young Boys, Al-Fateh FC, Rahul Academy, Birsa Munda, Eagle ‘B’, Bezonbagh, Yuva FC, Nobel FC, Young Ansar, Shakti FC, Mecosabagh FC, Big Ben and Bhankheda FC.
“It would hardly take 15-20 days to complete the leagues,” Vora concluded.