A major controversy has erupted in Cachar’s sporting community after the Shilchar Sporting Club (SSC) leased its primary football ground for a 25-day commercial expo, effectively halting all football activities and raising serious concerns about the field’s future viability.
The lease agreement, which runs from December 1st, will see the dedicated football ground transformed into a temporary fairground, prioritizing commercial profit over the development of local sports.
🚫 Football Halted, Academy Training Suspended
The field, which is primarily designated for football and serves as the training hub for the Shilchar Sporting Football Academy, will now be off-limits for nearly a month.
25-Day Closure: No football activity will take place, forcing the suspension of the club’s football academy training for young players.
Damage Concerns: Heavy vehicles belonging to the commercial exposition organizers have already been brought onto the pitch, actively digging up and ruining the playing surface required for players’ practice and matches.
The decision has drawn immediate and fierce condemnation from former footballers and local sports enthusiasts who view the move as a betrayal of the field’s original purpose.
🎤 Former Players Voice Alarm Over Field Destruction
Former footballers who trained on the very ground and brought laurels to Silchar expressed deep apprehension regarding the damage being done to the pitch.
Former player Subir Dey voiced serious doubt about the field’s ability to host football in the future.
Another former footballer, Shithil Dhar, who trained at the club and saw many players from the field go on to play nationally and internationally, lamented the prioritization of commerce.
📝 Violation of Contract and Scarcity of Grounds
The controversy is compounded by the severe scarcity of dedicated sporting grounds in the region. The Silchar DSA (District Sports Association) Ground already bears the burden of hosting cricket, football, and a variety of other events year-round due to the lack of alternatives, leading to its poor condition.
Crucially, the Shilchar Sporting Club has an existing agreement with the District Sports Association (DSA) mandating that the field must be used exclusively for sports, particularly for the football academy.
The decision by SSC to rent the field to a commercial entity for financial gain is being viewed by many as a clear violation of this contract and a shocking act of negligence that sacrifices a crucial sporting asset for short-term profit.
Local sports bodies and residents are now demanding immediate intervention to protect the field, questioning the priorities of the club management which seems willing to destroy the training venue for hundreds of future footballers.
