Santosh Trophy main rounds to be held in Malappuram, Kerala next year

Kochi to host a women’s 4-team international tournament in December, Kerala to host national camps for junior teams too.

The 75th edition of the Santosh Trophy for the National Football Championship is set to be hosted in Kerala at the Payyanad Stadium in Malappuram next year. According to the Sports Minister of Kerala V Abdulrahman, Kerala is on its way to becoming a football hub in the country. He was seen addressing the media in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday after an interaction with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) team that is led by the former international and deputy general secretary Abhishek Yadav. 

“Now that Kerala has opened up in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, stadiums too will be opened up soon. The state will host more national and international events soon,” said Abdulrahman, reports The Indian Express. Abhishek stated that the state of Kerala will be considered for the future national camps for juniors and the sub-juniors category. “The national camps, including for the World Cup qualifiers, can be organised in Kerala and it will help develop the game as local players and clubs teams will get a chance to play the campers,” he said.

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The Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi will be hosting the international teams from four countries including Indian in the senior women’s championship as the national camps for the team will take place in Kerala as well.