The future of the iconic Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra West was raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday, with NCP MLC Zeeshan Siddique urging the state government to preserve the city’s historic football venue and prevent its redevelopment.
Speaking in the House, Siddique highlighted the ground’s importance in nurturing football talent over the decades and expressed concern over the shrinking number of playgrounds and open spaces across Mumbai. He said the loss of such sporting facilities could adversely affect the growth of football and other sports in the city.
“We often ask why India does not qualify for the FIFA World Cup or why Indian footballers do not feature regularly in top international clubs. How will our players reach that level if we continue taking away their grounds?” Siddique asked, calling for immediate intervention by the state government.
The issue comes amid growing opposition to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposal to develop a convention centre on nearly 8,450 square metres of the Neville D’Souza Football Ground. The proposal has sparked protests from footballers, coaches, residents and sports organisations, who argue that Mumbai cannot afford to lose one of its few dedicated football grounds.
Named after Neville D’Souza, the first Indian footballer to score a hat-trick at the Olympic Games, the venue has long served as a centre for grassroots football, school competitions, local leagues and coaching programmes. The Mumbai Football Association, along with several clubs and football academies, has also opposed the proposed change in land use.
The issue has also drawn political attention, with leaders from different parties stressing that replacing sports infrastructure with built developments would undermine efforts to promote sports among young people.
Among the key demands raised by footballers and citizens are the withdrawal of the convention centre proposal, retention of the entire ground exclusively for sports and recreation, permanent reservation of the site as a playground, stakeholder consultations before any land-use change, and a broader policy to safeguard Mumbai’s playgrounds from non-sporting development.
Source: The Times of India
