Top News
India should cash in on football’s popularity (Column: Just Sport)
By Veturi Srivatsa
Once in four years the whole world gets excited about the World Cup. So do the Indians, taking stock of their own football.
The other night ‘Mirror Now’, television channel got five knowledgeable football experts to discuss the state, rather the ills, of Indian football. Three of them are passionately involved with the sport, the others wasted time contradicting the panelists in what turned out to be a futile exercise, though some good did filter through the animated debate.
An impassioned appeal by India’s captain Sunil Chhetri to fans to fill the stadiums to encourage his team sent social media agog, bringing in Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli among others to endorse his plea. Even Sania Mirza had a little banter with Chhetri, asking for tickets and in reply had what she called “the legend” seeking tickets for the tennis star’s next match.
The plea worked as the stadium was packed in Mumbai to see Chhetri play his hundredth international match and leading the team to victory against Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup, scoring two of India’s three goals. The two teams had qualified for Sunday’s final from a round robin league with New Zealand and Chinese Taipei, all lower ranked teams to India’s 97.
It took three years for India to jump from 173 to 97, though the critics think that the All India Football Federation Federation (AIFF) manipulated this by playing lower ranked teams. The federation rebutted the argument saying in the last year or so India played teams that qualified for the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup and made the finals after eight years and thus, teams were not picked by the AIFF for bilateral events. Moreover, all these matches were played on a home and away basis.
India’s actual jump occurred during the 2015-17 period when they had a 13-match unbeaten run, seven of these coming against teams like Nepal, Laos, Macau and Mauritius.
While India did well against Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan in the Asian Cup qualifiers, the tables were turned on them by the central Asian team when they went to Bishkek for the return leg and there their winning streak ended.
The protagonists claim that the players turning out for India today have mostly come from the federation’s youth development programme, seven of the first 11 playing in the Intercontinental Cup. In all the 34 who played for India, a majority are products of AIFF stable.
From time to time, the media goes to town about English Premier League and La Liga clubs starting their summer coaching programmes and many mistake it to be academies run by the famous clubs.
These and the so-called private academies are turning out to be money-making rackets. Some of the I-League and Indian Super Leage (ISL) clubs have also announced the setting up of academies but actually they are mere football shops.
Even the AIFF’s regional academies, started with much fanfare in Kolkata and Mumbai, had to close down for lack of accommodation and basic infrastructure. The federation now runs only its Goa Academy where it also has an Elite Academy.
The Kolkata Academy will come up on a 15-acre land the West Bengal Government leased out to the AIFF and that should ease pressure on Goa. Then there other academies and football schools run by former India star Bhaichung Bhutia for juniors.
These programmes are being touted for long. Unless there is a club culture and major domestic tournaments to test their caliber, Indian football will continue to run like a slow and steady tortoise, hoping some day it will reach the destination.
Old-timers continue to lament over the federation forcing tournaments like DCM, Durand, Rovers, IFA Shield, Stafford Cup, Nizam Gold Cup and Sait Nagjee Cup, covering the major football centres, to be closed down in search of an El Dorado called professional league.
The domestic football circuit used to have a summer circuit down south and the northern circuit in the winter. These circuits have also encouraged corporates and banks to start and recruit top footballers, besides the Railways and the Services giving utmost priority to their teams.
On Chhetri’s appeal, a capacity crowd of 7,000 could turn up for the match in Mumbai, it only shows people are interested in watching good sport and football is universally popular.
India should cash in on the game’s popularity.
(Veturi Srivatsa is a senior journalist. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at [email protected])
–IANS
vs/ajb/vm
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
