Bollaram Sporting Club: Where Champions Are Made

11 May, 2023 10:54 IST|Sakshi Post

Hyderabad: Long before cricket took over India, football was one of the most popular sports in the country. The Bollaram Sporting Ground which hosts Cantonment football club is one of the oldest sporting grounds in Secunderabad. The ground is sandwiched between Sadar Bazar Junior College and a school which was built during the British era.

From outside, you may not not see the ground but when you enter the gate, you’ll be surprised to see the spacious ground hidden by the roadside constructions. The Bollaram Sporting Ground is quite popular among the sports enthusiasts.

Each day at the crack of dawn, you’ll see the sporting ground buzzing with different sport activities. You’ll hear the cacophony of hundreds of children who will be running around and kicking the football.

As the schools are closed and summer vacations are going on, the sporting ground is filled with young boys and girls. During summer holidays, the Bollaram Sporting Ground holds sports camps for kids as a social service. Every year, the coaches of the Bollaram Football Club and former players come together to coach the children in different sports activities. The coaches offer this service voluntarily as they want to give back to the sporting club which made them professionals.

The Bollaram Football Club, which was set up in 1946, celebrated its diamond jubilee in 2022. As part of its diamond jubilee celebrations, the Club organizers held the football tournaments for boys and girls throughout the year. A total of 75 matches were organized to mark the diamond jubilee year.

The Football Club boasts of training several players who went on to play for the country in both domestic and international sporting events. Over the years, as many as 16 sportspersons have represented India in various international sporting events.

Some of the legendary footballers mentored by the Bollaram Football Club are:

1. Peter Thangaraj represented India twice in Olympic Games (1956 and 1960). He received the Arjuna Award in 1967.

2.Tulsidas Balaram — another legendary football player who played in two Olympics in 1956 and 1960

3. D Kannan represented India in the 1958 Asian Games

4. Antony Patrick, member of the Indian football team, started his journey from this club and went on to play international matches

5. GM Pentaiah served as a coach during the 1960 Summer Olympics in Italy

6. Aleem Khan played in international matches. He retired as a District Sports Development Officer

7. KRV Murthy represented the Bollaram Football Club in many matches. He retired from State Bank of Hyderabad

8. GP Vijay Kumar excelled as a football player and represented the state team. Later, through Sports quota, he joined the Central Excise department as an Assistant Commissioner

9. B Venugopal, who started his career as a football player, went on to become a Senior coach at Sports Authority of India (SAI). He was also a National Institute of Sports (NIS) certified coach

10. Victor Amul Raj — a Bollaram Football Club product who led the national football team

11. Manibhushan played for the state football team

12. ES Shyam played in international football matches. He is currently working as a manager and coach for State Bank of India. He is AFC 'A' License certified Coach

13. BR Vivek — he represented the State team. He worked in the Indian Railways department and retired

14. Jayakumar — he represented the state team. He worked in the Indian Railways department and retired

15. Amar Chand — he represented the state team. He is currently working for the State Bank

The main objective of this summer camp is to help kids develop their football abilities. Efforts are also being made to make the summer camp more fun and interesting for the participants. The sporting Club is using this camp to identify and help youngsters become recognized if they have the talent and the potential to pursue a career as a professional football player.

Raj Saikripa Anand, Secretary of Bollaram Football Club, thanked the former Secretaries of the Club like Bhaskar Reddy, Gopal Rao, Gnyaneshwar and GP Vijaykumar for providing all kinds of support to the management of the Club.

Currently, following senior players are offering their services as regular Coaches at the Bollaram Football Club:

1. Gandla Sandeep — he is representing Ranga Reddy District and University

2. S Sunil Kumar — he has represented Under-19 State team

3. C Prabhakar Reddy — he is a NIS Certified Coach. He is working as a Coach at Kendriya Vidyalaya Bollaram

4. Boddu Raghavender — Senior player who represented district

5. Y Vinod Kumar — Senior player

6. R Chandil — Senior player

7. B Anil Kumar — Senior player

“The alumni of the Club, who are working as Coaches in various government organizations, are voluntarily helping it in running the summer camp for children. Despite our postings in far-off places, the coaches ensure their presence at the annual camp,” Sunil, Coach, Bollaram Sporting Club.

“Regardless of our work-related engagements, we take some time out of our busy schedule and come here on weekends and participate in the club activities. We’re training these kids to play football and also teaching them physical exercises,” said Shyam, International Football Player and Coach and a State Bank Deputy Manager.

“I have a long association with this club. I have learned a lot here. There is great joy in teaching the same game to others. Bollaram Football Club has become a part of our lives," Sandeep, Coach, Bollaram Sporting Club.