Highest footfall at Kankaria ‘football’ ground from garba, rallies

Ahmedabad: Every Amdavadi knows the ‘Kankaria football ground’ near in Maninagar. But here’s a kicker: No one knows how the ground came to be called so. And, the last time locals saw football matches being held here was over three decades ago.

During all these years, the Kankaria football ground has lived up to everything except its name, and is today, better known for grand garba nights, political rallies and public events than for goals, tackles or even a casual kickabout.An Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the civic body owns the plot and rents it out for Navratri and public functions. “The ground likely got its name because locals used to organise football matches here many, many years ago,” the official said, indicating he, too, does not know the origins.Many local youngsters also say they have never seen the world’s most popular sport being played at the so-called football ground. Instead, the space is commonly used by several cricket teams playing at the same time.Maninagar resident Sayuj Thiya and his friends occasionally enjoy a game of football, but in their society, where space is limited. “It would be good if there was a public football ground in the area with all facilities.

This one does not even have goal posts. But honestly, cricket is far more popular in India than football. Very few youngsters choose football or any other sport over cricket,” he said.Another youngster too rued the lack of a well-fitted-out football pitch in the locality. He has enrolled at a private football coaching academy at the TranStadia in Maninagar. “The football World Cup has begun, and hopefully there will be more youngsters wanting to take up the sport,” he said. In 2025, the ground was in the news — not for a football match, but over a controversy over its rental. Shehzad Khan Pathan, leader of the opposition in the AMC, alleged that AMC was following a discriminatory policy while renting out plots for Navratri celebrations.AMC rented the ground to an organisation for a 10-day garba event for Rs 16.16 lakh. Another organisation was charged just Rs 2 lakh to host 10 days of garba.

This sparked a row because the base rent to let out the ground for Navratri had been set at Rs 10.42 lakh, yet it was leased for a mere Rs 2 lakh.AMC has built the Vastral Sports Complex for Rs 58 crore. Built across 43,890 sq m, this complex features indoor games as well as an international-standard football ground. It has two courts with movable posts, and the entire field is covered with natural grass maintained by a sprinkler system.In 2023, AMC decided to develop and open 245 plots across Ahmedabad designated for playgrounds, equipped with water and other facilities. The plan aimed to provide spaces where citizens could play sports like cricket, volleyball and football. This included 53 plots larger than 5,000 sq m and 192 plots smaller than 5,000 sq m.