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Comment: Goal 2011 And It's Implications - Part I
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is planning to select 25 players who would only be playing for them as part of the preparation for the 2011 Asia Cup, Qatar. Goal.com looks at the different sides of this proposal…
10-Mar-2009 5:37:20 AM
It’s surprising but true. The selected lot would play a
minimum of 30 international friendlies coupled with some practice matches, in a
plan mooted by national team coach Bob Houghton.
The Indian FA is trying it’s best to pay the players a handsome amount so that they don’t lose out on the hefty sums they get at the club level. If this actualises, it would change the face of Indian football for sure. The theme of coming out with such a plan is that India performs well at the 2011 Asia Cup and for that one needs the team to stay together.
“The AIFF is giving utmost importance to the performance of the Indian National Team in the Asian Cup 2011,” said AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco to Goal.com.
But then, what about the I-League? Depriving the country’s top most league of its top stars would be letting the standard plunge down?
“The only way of stirring the nationalistic pride amongst Indians is when our national team does well on the international scene. Until then, it’s not possible which we have come to realise.
“The I-League could be used as a steady talent pool and give youngsters an opportunity to prove themselves on the big stage,” said an AIFF official on anonymous grounds.
If a Mohun Bagan or a Mahindra United does well, it’s very difficult for the Indian football fraternity, which includes the fans as well, to pay their homage. While if the Indian national team does well, automatically you would see that even those Indians, who feast on the English Premier League and the La Liga, would turn their attention and take notice of the Men in Blue, which is essentially what the country needs.
One may raise the question as to why the selected lot have to not play in the I-League and do special preparation as that would mean belittling the standard of the I-League.
I-League is played on some of the worst fields when compared to the Asian pitches as well. At the 2011 Asia Cup, when India has to face an Australia or a Saudi Arabia, the kind of preparation the team has to undergo has to be special and on better grounds if it has any hopes of doing well in the competition. When the selected 25 players would play international friendlies both in and outside the nation, it would mean more exposure to the international standards which shall only help. Playing at the Cooperage or a Salt Lake Stadium for their club wouldn’t help the national team grow.
Also the team has to be together for a long time as seldom does the frantic schedule in India with several tournaments being made important make it feasible. There are the local leagues, Durand Cup, Federation Cup, Santosh Trophy, IFA Shield and the I-League. It doesn’t give Bob Houghton enough time to work with the national team to bring about the changes.
Consider this: After winning the AFC Challenge Cup last year in August, they have played just a single friendly away to Hong Kong with a 10 day preparation which ended in a loss.
Football fans have been frustrated seeing the nation drop down a few more points on the FIFA rankings ladder, which is bound to happen. Houghton’s idea always has been to improve the ranking, i.e., to be amongst the top lot in Asia has it ensures a qualifier against lower ranked nations. This would increase the nation’s chances to make it to the World Cup.
Would the I-League lose its charm then?
“Most of the players in India are almost of the same level with just some minor difference in quality. If the national team players leave, there would not be others who shall replace them,” said Mohun Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra.
Looking at the financial side of things, though various club officials across the nation have questioned AIFF’s pocket, but those in the know-how remain optimistic.
“The discussion we had at the Executive Committee meeting was just one of the initial thoughts we have on this matter. We will hold a further discussion on the 12th of March, 2009. Future course will be decided after this meeting,” said Alberto Colaco.
Indian football has remained stale for long and was referred to as the ‘sleeping giant’ by the FIFA president Sepp Blatter two years ago.
It’s definitely a good move by the AIFF and Bob Houghton to at least to work towards to a goal. The pessimists would and have stated that if the plan flops, then the AIFF would lose a whole lot of money.
“Whether it clicks or not, it will be a lesson to be learnt by all. Sometimes one has to take the risk,” said Mumbai FC general manager Henry Menezes.
While questions have been raised as to whether any country in the world has followed such a program to get success at the international level. In reality, it has been.
It would be a little surprising to note that the plan was similar to the one adopted by the USA national team prior to the 1994 World Cup where the then coach Bora Milutinovic and the USA Soccer Federation signed 35 players for a period of two years. The results were for all to see when the Americans qualified from the group stages.
On Thursday, when the AIFF meets to takes a decision on the same, it would be one of the biggest changes in the Indian football scenario which could alter the future of the game in the nation.
Are you game for it?
Rahul Bali.
The Indian FA is trying it’s best to pay the players a handsome amount so that they don’t lose out on the hefty sums they get at the club level. If this actualises, it would change the face of Indian football for sure. The theme of coming out with such a plan is that India performs well at the 2011 Asia Cup and for that one needs the team to stay together.
“The AIFF is giving utmost importance to the performance of the Indian National Team in the Asian Cup 2011,” said AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco to Goal.com.
But then, what about the I-League? Depriving the country’s top most league of its top stars would be letting the standard plunge down?
“The only way of stirring the nationalistic pride amongst Indians is when our national team does well on the international scene. Until then, it’s not possible which we have come to realise.
“The I-League could be used as a steady talent pool and give youngsters an opportunity to prove themselves on the big stage,” said an AIFF official on anonymous grounds.
If a Mohun Bagan or a Mahindra United does well, it’s very difficult for the Indian football fraternity, which includes the fans as well, to pay their homage. While if the Indian national team does well, automatically you would see that even those Indians, who feast on the English Premier League and the La Liga, would turn their attention and take notice of the Men in Blue, which is essentially what the country needs.
One may raise the question as to why the selected lot have to not play in the I-League and do special preparation as that would mean belittling the standard of the I-League.
I-League is played on some of the worst fields when compared to the Asian pitches as well. At the 2011 Asia Cup, when India has to face an Australia or a Saudi Arabia, the kind of preparation the team has to undergo has to be special and on better grounds if it has any hopes of doing well in the competition. When the selected 25 players would play international friendlies both in and outside the nation, it would mean more exposure to the international standards which shall only help. Playing at the Cooperage or a Salt Lake Stadium for their club wouldn’t help the national team grow.
Also the team has to be together for a long time as seldom does the frantic schedule in India with several tournaments being made important make it feasible. There are the local leagues, Durand Cup, Federation Cup, Santosh Trophy, IFA Shield and the I-League. It doesn’t give Bob Houghton enough time to work with the national team to bring about the changes.
Consider this: After winning the AFC Challenge Cup last year in August, they have played just a single friendly away to Hong Kong with a 10 day preparation which ended in a loss.
Football fans have been frustrated seeing the nation drop down a few more points on the FIFA rankings ladder, which is bound to happen. Houghton’s idea always has been to improve the ranking, i.e., to be amongst the top lot in Asia has it ensures a qualifier against lower ranked nations. This would increase the nation’s chances to make it to the World Cup.
Would the I-League lose its charm then?
“Most of the players in India are almost of the same level with just some minor difference in quality. If the national team players leave, there would not be others who shall replace them,” said Mohun Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra.
Looking at the financial side of things, though various club officials across the nation have questioned AIFF’s pocket, but those in the know-how remain optimistic.
“The discussion we had at the Executive Committee meeting was just one of the initial thoughts we have on this matter. We will hold a further discussion on the 12th of March, 2009. Future course will be decided after this meeting,” said Alberto Colaco.
Indian football has remained stale for long and was referred to as the ‘sleeping giant’ by the FIFA president Sepp Blatter two years ago.
It’s definitely a good move by the AIFF and Bob Houghton to at least to work towards to a goal. The pessimists would and have stated that if the plan flops, then the AIFF would lose a whole lot of money.
“Whether it clicks or not, it will be a lesson to be learnt by all. Sometimes one has to take the risk,” said Mumbai FC general manager Henry Menezes.
While questions have been raised as to whether any country in the world has followed such a program to get success at the international level. In reality, it has been.
It would be a little surprising to note that the plan was similar to the one adopted by the USA national team prior to the 1994 World Cup where the then coach Bora Milutinovic and the USA Soccer Federation signed 35 players for a period of two years. The results were for all to see when the Americans qualified from the group stages.
On Thursday, when the AIFF meets to takes a decision on the same, it would be one of the biggest changes in the Indian football scenario which could alter the future of the game in the nation.
Are you game for it?
Rahul Bali.
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