Sevens football in Kerala


Sevens football is a popular form of football played in Kerala. The games are played with seven players on each side, typically in a smaller field than a full-size football ground. The refereeing in the games is not as strict as in regular football and games can be rough and injury-prone. Sevens, as this form of the sport is commonly known, is popular in the Malabar region including the districts of Malappuram, Kannur and Kozhikode.
Several Sevens tournaments among different clubs are held during the months of November through May. The All Kerala Sevens’ Football Association organizes up to 50 tournaments across the state. The matches in Sevens tournaments are often played to fully packed galleries, and occasionally even draw more crowds than regular football matches.
Several footballers from Kerala, including stars of the Indian national football team such as I. M. Vijayan and Anas Edathodika, credit their experiences in Sevens tournaments for helping them improve their footballing skills and develop their passion for the sport. Sevens tournaments have also attracted stars from other parts of India, including Bhaichung Bhutia, as well as international players including some from Africa. The Malayalam movie Sudani from Nigeria was based on an African footballer who comes to Kerala to play in a Sevens tournament.