Srinagar: A delegation of football administrators and former players has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council to protect Bakshi Stadium’s identity as a premier football venue and expedite the long-pending elections of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA), warning that further delays could jeopardise the future of the sport in the Union Territory.
The delegation, comprising Fayaz Ahmad Sofi, Bashir Ahmad Malik, Zahoor Ahmad Teli, Tariq Madni, Bilal Punjabi and former international footballer Abdul Majeed Kakroo, among others, recently met the Secretary of the J&K Sports Council at her office in Srinagar to discuss several issues concerning the development and administration of football in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to details available with Kashmir Sports Watch (KSW), the two principal issues raised during the meeting were the conduct of JKFA elections and the growing use of Bakshi Stadium, historically associated with football, for cricket activities.
JKFA Elections: Concern Over Possible AIFF Action
The delegation apprised the Sports Council Secretary of the latest developments concerning the JKFA elections, which have remained pending for several years. The members expressed concern that further delays could invite action from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), potentially affecting football activities across Jammu and Kashmir.
The prolonged uncertainty surrounding the association’s electoral process has raised serious questions about the administration and representation of football in the region.
A source familiar with the meeting said the Secretary and other officials, including the Sports Council’s Administrative Officer, listened to the delegation’s concerns and assured them of cooperation in facilitating the election process, subject to the resolution of any legal issues.
“The officials listened patiently to the delegation and assured full cooperation in the conduct of the elections, subject to any pending legal issues,” the source said.
Bakshi Stadium Row: Football Administrators Object to Cricket Use
However, the discussion over Bakshi Stadium emerged as the more contentious issue during the meeting, with members of the delegation expressing strong reservations about the venue increasingly being used for cricket.
The delegation reportedly argued that Bakshi Stadium is a historic football ground, developed and associated with the legacy of former Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. For decades, the venue has served as an important centre for football in Srinagar and has remained closely linked to the sport’s development in the region.
The members pointed out that the Sports Council’s decision to allow cricket activities at the stadium since last year had raised concerns among football administrators, who fear that the ground’s primary purpose could gradually be undermined.
According to sources, the discussion became heated when one of the delegation members questioned the decision to use the football venue for cricket.
The Sports Council’s Administrative Officer reportedly responded by questioning the objection, suggesting that there should be no issue with cricket being played at the stadium and that football could also be accommodated at the same venue.
The response did not go down well with the delegation member, who argued that the ground was fundamentally a football facility and lacked the dimensions and infrastructure required for cricket.
The member also highlighted what the delegation views as an imbalance in the availability of sporting infrastructure, arguing that cricket has access to substantial resources and dedicated facilities, while football continues to struggle for adequate playing grounds.
To underline the concern, the member reportedly asked whether the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) would permit football activities at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Sonwar, Srinagar, in the same manner that cricket was being accommodated at Bakshi Stadium.
Sources said Sports Council officials had no immediate answer to the comparison and assured the delegation that the matter would be examined and an appropriate decision taken.
Football Fraternity Warns of Public Protest
The delegation reportedly made it clear that the continued use of Bakshi Stadium for cricket, without adequately addressing the concerns of the football community, could force administrators and stakeholders to take the issue to the public.
A source said the members warned that they might launch an agitation if their concerns over the protection of the ground were not addressed.
The delegation’s position, according to sources, was that preserving Bakshi Stadium as a dedicated football venue was essential not merely for the sport’s established administrators but also for young footballers who depend on accessible grounds for training, competitions and their long-term development.
The issue has brought renewed attention to the allocation and use of sporting infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, where different disciplines continue to seek adequate facilities to nurture emerging talent.
For the football fraternity, the demand is straightforward: while sporting facilities should be developed and shared wherever feasible, the historical identity and specific requirements of an established football ground must not be overlooked.
With the JKFA election process still awaiting resolution and questions continuing over the use of Bakshi Stadium, the Sports Council now faces calls to address both issues in a manner that safeguards the interests of football and provides clarity to stakeholders.
Whether the assurances given during the meeting translate into concrete action remains to be seen.
