Omanoor players line up ahead of the kick-off. Photo: By Special ArrangementFootball fans get to watch the World Cup every four years. But two villages of soccer-crazy Malabar region in Kerala had to wait for 17 years to watch the semifinal of a local sevens tournament they had organized in 2001.
The football lovers of Omanoor and Thadaparamba — two villages near Kondotty in Malappuram — staged the semifinal, which was postponed in 2001, after 17 years on May 15, 2018.
The second semifinal of the tournament organised by Rainbow Club, Omanoor, was abandoned in 2001 due to heavy rain. The match was played on a paddy field and once the heavens opened up there was no option but to postpone the game between Omanoor and Thadaparamba.
The villagers tried to conduct the rematch before every World Cup. But though four editions of the global event went by, the semifinal did not take place till May 15. It is to be noted that Rainbow Club, Omanoor, never staged a tournament in this period.
Dignitaries exchanging pleasantries with the players ahead of the semifinal. Photo: By Special ArrangementThe never-say-die spirit of the villagers and the support of Omanoor Youth Cultural Centre (OYCC) meant the game was finally held on Tuesday. The teams were allowed to field players of their choice and many of those who took the field in 2001 were on the sidelines to cheer their sides on! The gallery tickets which cost only Rs 2 in 2001 were costlier, but a huge crowd gathered to watch the match despite tickets being priced at Rs 50.
“We were determined to hold the game this time around. The OYCC provided the ground and we are glad the game could be played before the start of Ramzan,” said Ayoob, treasurer of Rainbow Club. Ayoob's brother Mohammed Shafi, who was one of the organisers in 2001, had passed away five years later.
The World Cup fever only added to the excitement and Cheekode grama panchayat president K P Sayeed inaugurated the tournament.
Players of Manjeri FIFA and Kozhikode Black and White donned the colours of Thadaparamba and Omanoor respectively. Both Manjeri FIFA and Kozhikode Black and White are a force to reckon with at the national level as far as sevens tournaments are concerned. Thadaparamba won 2-0 to set up a title clash with their 'B' team.
The final played on Wednesday was a battle between generations as the organisers and locals decided to make it a contest between the married ones and bachelors! The bachelors came up trumps 3-1 to bring the curtains down on a long-awaited two-game tournament.
