Will Messi magic transform Kerala football?

Kerala government brings Argentina for football friendlies, sparking debate on sports funding priorities and infrastructure needs.

The red carpet has been rolled out. Late next year World Cup champion Argentina will be playing two football friendlies in Kerala. And that magician Lionel Messi could also be there.

The Kerala government is bringing Argentina, one of the planet’s most-loved teams, and Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman is at the forefront to whip up some magic in the football-crazy State. And Jo Paul Ancheri, one of the game’s greats, is thrilled. 

“I’m very excited that Argentina is coming. And if Messi comes, watching him play will be a huge motivation, especially for young kids,” said the former India captain. “It will inspire more kids to take up football.” 

Thomas Paul, a teen footballer and an ardent Kerala Blasters fan, is equally excited. “It was Messi who made me love watching football. I was around five or six when it all began,” said the Global Public School student.

But the 17-year-old, a regular at Kerala Blasters’ ISL games, added a note of caution. He feels Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the first-choice venue for the friendlies, is a shaky structure.

“I think it’s not a good idea for Argentina to come here because the infrastructure is terrible. When you go to the Nehru stadium, the cement keeps coming down every time fans jump during ISL matches.”

The cost of bringing Argentina and its opponent, most likely an Asian country in FIFA’s top 50 world rankings, will be around ₹100 crore, which the Sports Minister said will come through sponsorship from Kerala’s business community.