By Dorian MelwinCHENNAI: Tamil Nadu football is stuck in doldrums. Despite the state team reaching the knockouts of the Santosh Trophy this year for the first time in over a decade, several cracks in the system are still evident. Tamil Nadu footballer and former I-League champion Ajith Kumar believes that a franchisee league, similar to neighbouring Kerala’s Super League could solve these problems. The 29-year old fullback, who has played in the ISL for Bengaluru FC and Chennaiyin FC, currently plies his trade for Indian Football League side Diamond Harbour FC.Ajith says that the quality is there in the team but there has to be a pathway for players to improve. Speaking to TOI from Jaipur on Thursday, the defender said: “Kerala has their own Super League which is famous, Bengal has a league, Gujarat also has a league. Maybe we can also have our own Tamil Nadu Super League. We don’t have to find a new formula, all we have to do is follow what other states are doing. Maybe it is possible, if there is an intent to do so then it is possible but I’m not sure”. He added: “Playing in a league structure will also give players an idea of proper conditioning and recovery. Players lack that information for no fault of their own. The only way they can get an idea is if they consistently play league games.”Ajith also stated that there isn’t a lack of fan following in Tamil Nadu. “There is a fanbase here (in Tamil Nadu) but they don’t get exposure or the time to enjoy football. There also hasn’t been a league in 10 years. When the Brazil Legends played here last year, we saw the crowds that came to watch. So the fanbase is definitely there, it’s just about bringing them to the stands.”Ajith, who won the I-League with Chennai City FC in 2019, also spoke about the important role that the now defunct club played in developing local talent. When asked about whether Tamil Nadu football misses a club like CCFC, Kumar said: “Definitely. If CCFC still existed, then we (players) wouldn’t go outside to play. Even with Chennaiyin existing, there isn’t a club that supported local players like CCFC. Every other state has a club like that, but we don’t.”
