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I-League: Our Primary Focus Will Be On Our Academy, Relegation Was A Setback – JCT MD Samir Thapar
With the news of JCT going to second division yet to sink in, Goal.com caught up with the club’s managing director – Samir Thapar…
02-Jun-2011 8:41:00 AM
By Rahul Bali
JCT FC
An avid sports lover that Samir Thapar is, he has all the ingredients one would expect from a man who runs a football club – passion, the drive to excel and most importantly, a vision.
Having represented the country in shooting back in the 1991 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand and being a former rally driver, Thapar is one of the few businessmen who take a keen interest in sports.
On Wednesday, JCT, the club of which he is the managing director of, were relegated for the first time since the National Football League came into picture. While being candid enough to admit that it was a big blow, he also wished if the All India Football Federation (AIFF) ran the I-League in a much more professional manner wherein the business model would come into the picture.
“I am disappointed and it has been a huge setback for us,” he said.
“We lost a lot of our good players last season as we decided to keep our budget to a certain level and didn’t go ahead in increasing it as some of the other teams did. We are a public limited company and have to justify the way we decide to spend,” reasoned Thapar.
He stated if things don’t change in the near future especially after IMG-Reliance having bought the marketing and broadcasting rights of Indian football last year, businessmen like him would better spend their money wisely.
“You need the kind of exposure, the viewership. You have got to rationalize whether it’s worth spending and it doesn’t make any economic sense. If all the matches are shown on TV and there is some mileage, then spending even four crores is justifiable.
“I would rather spend on other sports otherwise. How many do know that an Indian League exists in the first place apart from sports lovers like you and me,” questioned Thapar.
On being asked whether he shall continue with his project JCT football club, he stated that if things don’t change it is likely that they might have to review the situation.
“We hope the AIFF runs it well and I am hearing that with IMG-Reliance, possibly they might make I-League a success.
“If not then we will look at things and maybe continue running this way. As far as shutting down is concerned, I can’t comment on it but I don’t think so we might,” mentioned the former Executive Vice-President of the Asian Body Building Association.
JCT are known for producing young talent each year from which clubs across the country are benefitted and it gives Thapar an immense pleasure as soon we initiate the discussion on his academy.
“Relegation is not the end of the world as our focus is on our academy. We wish to work more on the grass-root level. We have a tie-up with Wolverhampton Wolves and we aim to better that by increasing the exposure levels for our coaches and youngsters.
“Our academy has seen so many players come out and they are now part of East Bengal, Salgaocar and some other clubs.
“From that point of view, I am very satisfied that we are contributing. This is what we want to focus on in future as that’s the way forward,” Thapar signed off.
Having represented the country in shooting back in the 1991 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand and being a former rally driver, Thapar is one of the few businessmen who take a keen interest in sports.
On Wednesday, JCT, the club of which he is the managing director of, were relegated for the first time since the National Football League came into picture. While being candid enough to admit that it was a big blow, he also wished if the All India Football Federation (AIFF) ran the I-League in a much more professional manner wherein the business model would come into the picture.
“I am disappointed and it has been a huge setback for us,” he said.
“We lost a lot of our good players last season as we decided to keep our budget to a certain level and didn’t go ahead in increasing it as some of the other teams did. We are a public limited company and have to justify the way we decide to spend,” reasoned Thapar.
He stated if things don’t change in the near future especially after IMG-Reliance having bought the marketing and broadcasting rights of Indian football last year, businessmen like him would better spend their money wisely.
“You need the kind of exposure, the viewership. You have got to rationalize whether it’s worth spending and it doesn’t make any economic sense. If all the matches are shown on TV and there is some mileage, then spending even four crores is justifiable.
“I would rather spend on other sports otherwise. How many do know that an Indian League exists in the first place apart from sports lovers like you and me,” questioned Thapar.
On being asked whether he shall continue with his project JCT football club, he stated that if things don’t change it is likely that they might have to review the situation.
“We hope the AIFF runs it well and I am hearing that with IMG-Reliance, possibly they might make I-League a success.
“If not then we will look at things and maybe continue running this way. As far as shutting down is concerned, I can’t comment on it but I don’t think so we might,” mentioned the former Executive Vice-President of the Asian Body Building Association.
JCT are known for producing young talent each year from which clubs across the country are benefitted and it gives Thapar an immense pleasure as soon we initiate the discussion on his academy.
“Relegation is not the end of the world as our focus is on our academy. We wish to work more on the grass-root level. We have a tie-up with Wolverhampton Wolves and we aim to better that by increasing the exposure levels for our coaches and youngsters.
“Our academy has seen so many players come out and they are now part of East Bengal, Salgaocar and some other clubs.
“From that point of view, I am very satisfied that we are contributing. This is what we want to focus on in future as that’s the way forward,” Thapar signed off.
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