Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chennithala said the support extended by initiatives like the VENDA Cup towards Operation Toofan is immense. “We are all committed to make Keralam a drug-free State and in coming days, with all the support and united efforts of all, we can achieve it,” he said.
Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh said substance abuse can be fully eradicated from the society not merely through legal actions, but when awareness programmes are conducted alongside them. Sports play a very crucial role in this effort. “Along with saying ‘No’ to drugs, opportunities must be created to encourage them to say ‘Yes’ to sports. For this, the most important thing is to engage them in tournaments like the ‘VENDA Cup’, recognise their talents, and provide them with the necessary encouragement so that they can emerge as great sports personalities in the future,“ he added.
VENDA Cup 2026, the State’s largest inter-school football tournament against drug abuse, brings together 1,600 players across 160 school teams from all 14 districts of Keralam, organised into four zones: Kannur, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam, with zonal qualifiers through September and October 2026 culminating in the State Championships on October 23 and 24 in Ernakulam.