Mangaluru: Long known for its passionate football culture and thriving grassroots tournaments, Mangaluru may soon add a new chapter to its sporting story — its first dedicated women’s football club.

The Dakshina Kannada Football Association (DKFA) has begun efforts to bring together the district’s emerging women footballers under a structured club, with discussions underway to identify a suitable coach and find financial backing for the proposed team.

For DKFA president D M Aslam, the idea is rooted in what the association has increasingly witnessed on the ground: more girls are taking up football, more teams are entering district-level competitions, and there is now enough talent to seriously consider building a competitive women’s side.

“We have spoken to several players and collected their details. The girls are ready. What we need now is the right support system,” Aslam said.

The proposed club is still at the planning stage, with the DKFA looking for a coach who can guide the players and a sponsor or owner willing to support the team’s operations. But the association believes the growing pool of women footballers in the district provides a strong foundation for the project.

The momentum is visible in the numbers.

The DKFA’s annual Independence Cup this year recorded its highest-ever participation, with 316 teams taking part — a sharp rise from 231 teams in 2025. Participation had stood at 211 teams in 2021 and grew steadily over the following years, touching 218 in 2022, 219 in 2023 and 223 in 2024.

Held over nearly 25 days, this year’s tournament brought together teams from higher primary schools, high schools, PU colleges and degree colleges across Dakshina Kannada.

Girls’ football, too, is beginning to find a stronger foothold. Ten teams competed in the combined PU and degree college women’s category, while nine higher primary girls’ teams and 17 high school girls’ teams participated in their respective sections.

For the DKFA, these young players represent more than just tournament entries. They could form the talent pipeline for a future women’s club representing Mangaluru in organised competitions.

The district already has a strong football ecosystem. More than 4,000 players are involved through 108 school teams, while talented players are often spotted by local clubs and brought into league football. Dakshina Kannada currently has 24 registered football clubs competing in various leagues.

What has been missing, however, is a dedicated platform capable of giving talented women footballers a clearer pathway beyond school and college competitions.

The proposed club could help bridge that gap — offering promising players an opportunity to train under a structured system, develop their skills and potentially compete at higher levels.

Mangaluru’s football infrastructure has also improved over the years, and the DKFA says the city is now capable of hosting major fixtures. The association has approached football authorities seeking the allocation of matches to Mangaluru whenever opportunities arise.

Club competitions are expected to begin towards the end of December, adding further activity to the district’s already busy football calendar.

For now, the search is on for the people and resources needed to turn the proposal into reality. But with dozens of girls’ teams already taking the field across age groups and participation continuing to grow, Mangaluru’s first women’s football club may be closer to becoming more than just an idea.

If the DKFA succeeds in finding the right backing, the city’s next big football story could be written not just by the boys and men who have long dominated its pitches, but by a new generation of women ready to claim their place on them.