Karnataka has a rich history in football, providing the national side with players like Ahmed Khan, T Shanmugam, Vajravelu and Arumainayagam who have enriched the game in the country.

But a record of their achievements are hard to come by. In a move to document the State’s contribution to the game comes S Abdul Rahman’s book, ‘Football in Karnataka — A historical perspective’.

The book was released at a function here on Saturday.
Rahman, a former national referee, traces the history of the game in the State, its evolution and other related aspects. The 360-page book also highlights the famous players who took the game to another level and represented the country at various international events, including the Asian Games, the Asian Cup and the Olympics.

In addition, it also gives a glimpse of the various national-level tournaments like the Stafford Cup, the National League and the National championships held in the State and the response it used to generate among the masses back then.