Ex-former captain threatens hunger strike to save ground

Srinagar, July 3 (UNI) Former Indian soccer captain Abdul Majid Kakroo has threatened to go on a hunger strike and return all medals if the Jammu and Kashmir government goes ahead with its proposal to convert the Polo ground here into a tulip nursery.

''We have no football grounds in Srinagar at present. We had grounds in Iqbal Park, children's park and Golbagh, but none exists now as these have been converted into parks. The Jammu and Kashmir High Courts was built on Golbagh,'' Kakroo told UNI.

He said the Polo ground (both East and West) should not be allowed to be converted into parks or nurseries.

''These should be kept for sports activities only. In fact, the state government should provide more football grounds,'' said Kakroo who played 95 international matches for India.

''I will go on a hunger strike and return all gold and silver medals along with all certificates if the state government goes ahead with its proposal,'' he threatened.

Kakroo, who is the coach of Jammu and Kashmir Bank football team, also said there was no dearth of soccer talent in the valley.

The Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) has trained more than 2000 local boys and organised camps at several places during the past one year, he added.

Kakroo captained Indian football team from 1986-87 and played for the national team for nine years from 1982.

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