Calicut in full glare!

After years of darkness, the Corporation Stadium here at Kozhikode was flooded with lights when the recently installed floodlights were inaugurated on Sunday evening by the Industry Minister, Elamaram Kareem, in the presence of  the Member of Parliament, MK Raghavan.

In a football match played as the part of the inauguration under the floodlights, a select Mayors Eleven faced KFA (Kerala Football Association) President's Eleven. The teams were selected from a pool of Kerala footballers who were called for the Santosh Trophy camp and played in the last Santosh Trophy. The match ended as a goalless draw with both teams spurning seceral chances on goal. KFA President's XI Goal Keeper Jinesh Thomas had a good game under the bars while captain Jaseer Karnath was the best player for Mayor's XI. Usman (SBT) led the KFA president's XI.

The inaugural function ceremoniously commenced with flag hoisting. The floodlights were switched on by the minister Elamaram Kareem in the presence of Kozhikode Mayor M Bhaskaran. Member of Parliament MK Raghavan and the 1960 Indian Olympic football team member Chandrashekharan were Chief Guests for the day. Report on the installation of floodlights was presented by Superintendent Engineer of Public Work Department Electrical section, Mohan Kumar.

5 veteran footballers of Kozhikode - Arayanthoppil Ravi, Sreedharan, Sukumaran Vengeri, Chandrashekharan and Bhasi Malaparambu - were felicitated during the function. Members of Legislative Assembly - A Pradeep KUmar and PMA Salam - Kerala Sports Council President TP Dasan and Deputy Mayor PT Abdul Lateef were also present.

The authorities informed that they are planning to conduct a tournament featuring about 8 foreign teams at Calicut Stadium under floodlights.

The floodlights have been installed by spending Rs 5.13 crores. There are 80 lights in each of the 4 towers that are erected around the stadium. These lights facilitate the live televison broadcastng of football and cricket matches. Viva Kerala's I League home matches that are to be played at Calicut will be kicking off under the silverlight.

The lights are powered by four 250KV Diesel engines. The floodlights consume 60 litres of diesel per hour and a football match held under the lights will cost around Rs 1.5 lakhs for the Corporation.

Hundreds of spectators who came to watch football were rewarded with a cultural program featuring traditional art forms Theyyam, Kolkali and Oppana.

Adwaidh R Photo Courtesy: Mathrubhumi and Madhyamam Daily

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Monday 5 October 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.