HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: As India and Syria await the kick-off on Monday night (9 Sept) for the Intercontinental Cup 2024 final showdown, Hyderabad – the City of Pearls will wake up to the next dawn having chartered its journey into the elite and ever-growing list of Indian cities as FIFA-ready international hubs.

The historic Gachibowli Stadium today dons a refreshingly new look infused with an estimate of approximate Rs 16 crores investment in renovation and restoration of its past glory. The speed at which Telangana government moved in last six months to announce its arrival at international stage, brings both hope and excitement for the future.

The successful conduct of the Tri-Nation Intercontinental Cup could just be the springboard that was needed to relaunch Hyderabad into the international football map once again, after the hiatus of 16 long years.

As the destiny would have had it, All India Football Federation President Sh. Kalyan Chaubey, in February 2024 made an unscheduled meeting request (to make use of his 6-hour flight layover at Hyderabad) to the Honourable Chief Minister of Telangana Sh. Revanth Reddy, who not only obliged by taking time out from the State’s assembly session but also spent quality time in discussing Indian football, Hyderabad’s legacy and Telangana’s partnership opportunities.

Recollecting the meeting Sh. Kalyan Chaubey said, “I’m glad the Honourable CM Sh. Revanth Reddy Ji could meet during his busy Assembly session, and we two could discuss and deliberate on Telangana’s collaboration with AIFF. The Honourable CM immediately expressed his keenness to onboard the footballing journey in reviving the sport in the State. Six months down the line, I’m thrilled to see the work being done at Gachibowli Stadium, the new and refurbished infrastructure and the excitement within the state administration to see Hyderabad playing host to its first international football event after 16 years.

“It gives me confidence in our partnership with the State and a push to explore how we can make Hyderabad a permanent home to not just international football events, but also to develop it as a gateway for talent grooming,” added Sh. Chaubey.

Over the last 2 years, AIFF has embarked upon forging newer partnerships with various Indian States to bring with on board for an inclusive football growth in the respective regions. Telangana being the latest to join the bandwagon, while just days prior, Uttar Pradesh CM had announced a massive infrastructure thrust in the State unveiling a plan for 827 fields and 18 mini stadiums in 18 Commissionaire zones covering all its 75 districts.

Football is bringing positive social changes in the society, as Chhattisgarh’s naxalite hit Bastar has been a witness to how arrival of national football competitions in Narainpur has slowly started to infuse cultural and social changes in the region, similar to what Assam’s Kokrajhar has experienced since last 2 years with the arrival of national football in the Bodo land.

Historically, Hyderabad has an inherent football legacy of 1950s to 80s, when the Hyderabad City Police team was a household name and the ever-inspiring bravery of legendary SA Rahim who not only excelled on the field but also had an illustrious career as India’s coach. The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secundrabad held a pride of place in Indian football having six footballers captaining Indian team, including SK Azizuddin, Dronacharya and Arjuna awardee Syed Nayeemuddin, Shahid Wasim, Mohammed Habib, Dhyanchand awardee Shabbir Ali and Victor Amalraj.

If Kolkata then was known as the mecca-of-football in India, Hyderabad had equally commanded the same respect in Indian football. And today, this city with its historic significance is once again ready to reverberate football in the region.