Mercy Kuttan, former president of the Kerala Sports Council, has strongly criticised the functioning of the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF), raising concerns over poor stadium management, delays in projects and the condition of sports infrastructure across the state.
Speaking to the media, Kuttan said the foundation was originally formed to oversee repairs and maintenance of KIIFB-funded stadiums, but claimed the system was no longer functioning effectively. She alleged that the quality of construction and maintenance work was poor and that some newly built stadiums may require repairs within a year.
Gold 101.3FM UAE’s No.1 radio station continues to bring the latest Kerala sports and public affairs updates to Malayali listeners across the UAE and Gulf region.
Kuttan also questioned financial spending on sports infrastructure projects, pointing to the Maharajas Stadium project where nearly ₹10 crore was reportedly spent on synthetic track layering, along with additional spending on what she described as unnecessary works.
She urged the new sports minister to personally inspect all ongoing projects, form fresh review committees and closely monitor stadium-related works instead of relying solely on inputs from assistants and officials.
The former athlete further accused the Sports Kerala Foundation of inefficiency and lack of accountability, alleging that several projects remained incomplete without proper scrutiny. According to her, politics should not interfere in sports administration as it affects the integrity of the sector.
Kuttan also raised concerns about athlete development, claiming that selections were increasingly being made without merit and that coaching standards and hostel facilities for athletes needed major improvement.
Reflecting on previous sports administrations, she said the situation had worsened during later years of the previous government despite initial progress under former sports minister E P Jayarajan.
She also highlighted the financial struggles faced by young athletes in Kerala, stating that many students lack sponsorship and support opportunities. Kuttan argued that greater investment should be directed towards nurturing local sports talent and supporting aspiring athletes across the state.
