Sevens football is a seven-a-side version of football played in India, on a smaller football pitch.[1][2] Sevens football is predominantly popular in Kerala, Malabar, and other parts of South India.[3] The matches in sevens tournaments are often played to fully packed stadiums.[4][1] Sevens tournaments have also attracted players from other parts of India,[5] as well as international players.[6] Matches are usually held from November to May. The Sevens Football Association (SFA) organizes around 50 tournaments among different clubs across South India.[7]
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Team members | 7 per side |
| Type | Sports |
| Equipment | Ball |
| Venue | Football pitch |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | South India |
| Olympic | No |
| Paralympic | No |
Several footballers, including India internationals I. M. Vijayan,[5] Ashique Kuruniyan, VP Suhair, Mashoor Shereef, CK Vineeth, Zakeer Manuppa, Mohammed Rafi, Asif Kottayil and Anas Edathodika, credit their experience in sevens tournaments for helping them improve footballing skills and develop passion for the sport.[8]
In popular culture
edit- Sudani from Nigeria (2018)[4]
- Sevenes (2011)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Run, Ashique, run: The Kerala speedster who turned India's premier trickster". ESPN. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "FIFA discovers the beauty of Sevens Football: What's this format and why is it so popular in Kerala". ESPN. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Sevens football season kicks off in Kerala". 20 November 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ a b "How Kerala shrunk football to make it its own". Times of India. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ a b "'Sevens football helps me retain my passion for the game'". Sportstar. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "The African footballers changing the game in India". BBC. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Sevens the lifeline of country football". The New Indian Express. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "From Malappuram Sevens to Kerala Blasters - Anas Edathodika remembers his roots". Yahoo! Sports. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.