Kodagu Football Club: Not Just Building a Team, Building a Dream!
- Shrividya Somanna
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Kodagu has always been a land that breathes sport. From legendary hockey tales to cricketing afternoons, from golf greens to athletic tracks, sport has shaped the spirit of this region. Yet, for years, football remained on the fringes—loved quietly, played passionately, but rarely seen as a path forward.
That story changed with Kodagu Football Club.
What began as a humble, heartfelt tribute has today grown into a powerful movement—one that is transforming the footballing landscape of Kodagu and igniting dreams in hundreds of young hearts.
From Tribute to Triumph
Kodagu Football Club was born out of remembrance and love—a tribute to a lost footballing brother Iychettira Naren Subbaya. But it soon evolved into something far greater. With the unwavering support of Mr. and Mrs. Iychettira Ravi Somaiah and the tireless dedication of their elder son, Ponnappa Iychettira, the club began building what Kodagu had never truly seen before: structure, professionalism, and possibility.
Ponnappa’s vision was simple yet bold—to ensure that a child from Kodagu would never have to give up football due to lack of opportunity. Under his leadership, Kodagu FC grew from a dream into a disciplined, aspirational club where young footballers are trained, mentored, and believed in.
Today, Kodagu FC stands tall as the only club from a mofussil belt to compete in the prestigious Karnataka Super Division. They have the pathway well structured and built for the aspiring youth With teams across categories starting from Under 7, all the way till Under 15, From there a progression into their C Division squad and finally a spot earned in the senior team to represent at the Super Division. Also, with AIFF accreditation for grassroots development, the club has firmly placed Kodagu on India’s football map.
More Than a Club — A Footballing Culture
Kodagu FC is not just about results on the scoreboard. It is about changing lives.
The club runs grassroots programs across villages and towns like Begur, Guddehosur, Polibetta, and Gonikoppa and now working towards extending it to Virajpet, Napoklu, Madikeri and Somwarpet—ensuring that even children from the remotest corners get access to quality football training.
For those who show promise, the journey elevates and continues at the Dravid Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, where Kodagu FC currently operates its advanced high-performance training program because of the appropriate infrastructure that suits all seasons.
And soon, that same level of professional infrastructure will come home to Kodagu.
Plans are underway to build a high-performance football development centre in Kodagu itself, bridging the gap between raw village talent and professional football. A place where children can train consistently, through the year, without having to leave their roots behind.
One thing to note; Kodagu FC, has also successfully expanded into Bengaluru with few thriving training centres. This move came in response to federations new regulations requiring academies to operate within Bengaluru to participate in state-run youth leagues. Rather than viewing it as a limitation, Kodagu FC embraced the challenge extending its structured development model into the state capital.
In a landscape where Tier-1 academies typically expand into smaller towns, Kodagu FC has reversed the narrative. A club from a small district has entered Bengaluru’s highly competitive football ecosystem and established itself alongside long-standing urban academies, a rare and commendable achievement.
Kodagu FC’s journey reflects resilience, vision, and the belief that strong grassroots values can compete and succeed anywhere.
A Professional Pathway, A Real Future
Unlike many local clubs, Kodagu FC functions with professionalism at its core. Players are signed on competitive seasonal salaries, trained under a skilled technical team, and guided with clear growth pathways. Many have gone on to represent state teams and earn contracts with I-League and ISL clubs.
Today, footballers from across India aspire to wear the Kodagu FC jersey—because they know it represents honesty, discipline, opportunity, and belief.
The long-term vision is clear: promotion to the I-League and eventually the ISL, with a strong core of homegrown Kodagu and Karnataka players.
A Season That Spoke Volumes
The 2025–26 Karnataka Super Division season marked a defining chapter. Kodagu FC finished 3rd out of 19 teams, improving steadily from 7th to 4th and now into the top three. But beyond the table, it was the sight of fans travelling all the way from Kodagu to Bengaluru for the final match that truly turned heads.
In a league dominated by urban clubs, Kodagu FC competed—and excelled—while operating at less than one-third of the operating cost of most top teams. Their youth teams, training with minimal resources, have gone on to defeat some of Bengaluru’s biggest academies.
It leaves one powerful question unanswered: What more could these children achieve with equal infrastructure and support?
Relentless Stride, Unshakeable Belief
The journey has never been easy.
In the early days, Mr. and Mrs. Ponnappa Iychettira stood with their two toddlers at crowded events and street corners, inviting strangers to believe in football. Many smiled, some laughed—but they never stopped.
There were 3:30 AM starts. Long drives through villages with coach Yenten Gyatso. Multiple training sessions across towns in a single day. For nearly more than half a decade, Ever since they got into the state league , Ponnappa has personally driven children every weekend from Kodagu to Bengaluru so they could play youth leagues, tournaments, and gain exposure.
From U9s to U13s, from muddy village fields to elite competitions, this has been a labour of love since 2016—fuelled by nothing but faith in children’s dreams.
From the earlier lonely battles, they now draw strength from the support of sponsors, well-wishers, and the academy’s parent community; a collective backing that provides some relief and encouragement. The journey ahead continues to demand greater collective backing to overcome the many challenges along the way. They remain optimistic to strengthen this support base with time.
The Challenge They Are Fighting Today
For nearly 5 to 6 months every year, Kodagu’s young footballers train on slushy, waterlogged fields due to heavy monsoons. Yet, even in these unfavourable conditions, they continue to surprise and outperform top academies.
Imagine what they could do with the right surface.
That is why Kodagu FC is working towards building a professional, all-weather football field—to give children from Kodagu the same quality of training surface as their urban peers. Not luxury. Just equality. Just a fair chance.
The Road Ahead — And an Invitation
Kodagu Football Club is not just shaping footballers; it is shaping confidence, discipline, and hope. It stands as proof that where you come from should never decide how far you can go.
To every child who loves the game.
To every parent wondering if sport has a future.
To every young dreamer lacing up boots on a muddy field—
Kodagu FC is your place. Supporting Kodagu FC means supporting the future of Kodagu’s youth.
Football in Kodagu is no longer just a sport.
It is a movement.
And at its heart stands Kodagu Football Club—leading the way, one dream at a time.
About Writer: Shrividya is a content writer, curriculum developer and an educator. She has co-authored an autobiography for Olympian Dr. M.P Ganesh and has published many research papers and articles for some of India’s leading newspapers and websites. A sports enthusiast, she has represented her university at the All-India Athletics Championship besides working for a brief period of time as an Omni Sport Leader for one of the top sports retail stores of the country.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Kodagu Express. The publication assumes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, or the validity of the information presented.
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