A monumental Santosh Trophy campaign saw the J&K team reach the quarterfinals for the very first time in the history of J&K football. This achievement came under the leadership of valley legend Coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo, supported by AFC A License Coach Satpal Singh Kala and internationally experienced physiotherapist Burhan Wani. The team punched above their weight and showcased gritty performances in the second round, ultimately reaching the quarterfinal stage, where they narrowly lost to Kerala with a marginal scoreline of 1-0.
However, the burning question remains: where do we go from here?
An experienced but ageing squad performed admirably in this Santosh Trophy campaign, with most players in their late 20s and early 30s. This raises concerns as the player pool has drastically shrunk due to a lack of youth development programs, hindering the prospects of nurturing potential talent from a young age.
For any state to evolve in football, it needs a strong domestic league and concurrent youth leagues that serve as ideal platforms for players to systematically develop their technical and tactical skills for the modern game. The lack of structure in J&K football is evident, with a limited talent pool available. Clubs like Downtown Heroes FC and Real Kashmir FC rely heavily on older players who have been part of the system for years. The absence of fresh, exciting talent is detrimental, and it cannot be addressed simply by highlighting four or five young players. Instead, there is an urgent need to develop an entirely new pool of players to represent the next generation of footballers from the valley.
Teams like Kerala, Manipur and West Bengal, which J&K faced, boast larger player pools, with significant representation from their top-tier players found in ISL and I-League clubs. The remaining players in these states seamlessly transition into Santosh Trophy squads, making them highly competitive. These states run competitions and leagues throughout the year, providing ample game time and opportunities for local players while fostering a thriving footballing culture.
In contrast, J&K suffers from a lack of youth competitions and an unfinished domestic league, which is conducted late in the year, leaving much of the season wasted. This negligence stifles the development of emerging talent and undermines the potential of local football.
This successful campaign shouldn’t be remembered as a one-off performance where circumstances merely aligned in J&K’s favour. Instead, it should serve as a reminder to all stakeholders of football in J&K to use this monumental achievement as a foundation. Building a robust football structure and environment is crucial to producing many more such successful campaigns. If progress continues in the right direction, who knows? J&K may finally lay its hands on the elusive Santosh Trophy in the coming years.
Moreover, I think the success of J&K’s Santosh Trophy campaign is a wake-up call for the entire footballing ecosystem in Kashmir. This huge achievement should not be just a one-time occurrence!
People including the government, local football associations, clubs, and coaches everyone must collaborate to create a sustainable footballing structure that nurtures young talent and provides them with the tools and opportunities to compete at the highest levels, rather than making it a profitable business just for themselves.
We must build such a football culture in J&K that not only replicates this success but consistently competes for national honours. The time to act is now, and there is no time to procrastinate. If the right steps are taken, then J&K can lay the foundation for a brighter future in Indian football.
Salman Ashraf Mir is a football management professional who has been working in football in various parts of the country and abroad in numerous roles. He is a gold medalist in management with over 10 years of experience working at the highest level of the sport.
Salman Ashraf Mir
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