Sacred Grounds

Football in India is alive and kicking. Not because of a few famous clubs and the top competitions, but because of the regional tournaments, local heroes and the people who keep football culture alive. The hugely popular Khep games in Kolkata, the hotly contested 7s league in Kerala, the many Basti tournaments in Meghalaya―all of these have kept the ball rolling. And that’s not all. Be it in hilly Mizoram and Nagaland, amidst the lush greens of Punjab, the sandy beaches of Thoothoor in Tamil Nadu or the fabled villages of Goa―football holds a special place in the hearts of many.