On a cold November afternoon in 2011, two officials of Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) were walking out of their Srinagar office when they saw an inscription carved out of the dust that had gathered on the rear windshield of their car which was parked outside their office. On a closer examination, it turned out that some unknown assailants had issued a clear warning to the association. “You’re helping Marcos in spreading Christianity’.
This was one of the many sordid episodes which marked the stay of the Argentinean Football coach Juan Marcos Troia in Kashmir. Marcos arrived in Kashmir in 2007 with the purpose of coaching young football enthusiasts how to make careers out of the game. Instead, his stay in a deeply polarised society like Kashmir saw a number of turbulent episodes which pitted him not only against his rivals in the game but also the politics and religion in Kashmir.
Marcos came to Delhi in 2002 where he was looking for young people who were passionate about football for nearly five years. But his hunt didn’t lead him anywhere. He used to roam around the campus of Jamia Millia University where he accidentally interacted with Kashmiri boys. “They suggested me to go to Kashmir. I then contacted JKFA for the promotion of football in the valley and offered my service as a volunteer. The JKFA chairman was happy and asked me to come over. I packed my bags and left to Kashmir in April 2007” says Marcos.
After his arrival in Kashmir, Marcos formed a trust by the name of International Sports Academy Trust (ISAT) which was registered as an NGO in 2003. It is affiliated to Syndicate of Professional Football Coach, Sao Paulo, Brazil and recognized by SITREPESP, University of Ibirapuera, Brazilian Football Confederation and FIFA.
In Kashmir, football is believed to have been introduced in the 19th century by Tyndale Biscoe, a British missionary, and was believed to be most popular game after cricket. The game received a boost in 1950’s when some clubs namely Friends Club, Gorkhas Team, Silk Factory and J&K Police Club were formed which led to the formation of JKFA in 1964. According to the JKFA, the state presently has 500 registered clubs with 12,500 players, coaches and other officials. more
This was one of the many sordid episodes which marked the stay of the Argentinean Football coach Juan Marcos Troia in Kashmir. Marcos arrived in Kashmir in 2007 with the purpose of coaching young football enthusiasts how to make careers out of the game. Instead, his stay in a deeply polarised society like Kashmir saw a number of turbulent episodes which pitted him not only against his rivals in the game but also the politics and religion in Kashmir.
Marcos came to Delhi in 2002 where he was looking for young people who were passionate about football for nearly five years. But his hunt didn’t lead him anywhere. He used to roam around the campus of Jamia Millia University where he accidentally interacted with Kashmiri boys. “They suggested me to go to Kashmir. I then contacted JKFA for the promotion of football in the valley and offered my service as a volunteer. The JKFA chairman was happy and asked me to come over. I packed my bags and left to Kashmir in April 2007” says Marcos.
After his arrival in Kashmir, Marcos formed a trust by the name of International Sports Academy Trust (ISAT) which was registered as an NGO in 2003. It is affiliated to Syndicate of Professional Football Coach, Sao Paulo, Brazil and recognized by SITREPESP, University of Ibirapuera, Brazilian Football Confederation and FIFA.
In Kashmir, football is believed to have been introduced in the 19th century by Tyndale Biscoe, a British missionary, and was believed to be most popular game after cricket. The game received a boost in 1950’s when some clubs namely Friends Club, Gorkhas Team, Silk Factory and J&K Police Club were formed which led to the formation of JKFA in 1964. According to the JKFA, the state presently has 500 registered clubs with 12,500 players, coaches and other officials. more
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