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SpeakOut: I-League 2.0 - New Teams Lead The Way Into The Future
Goal.com's Atishay Agarwal talks about the new-found professionalism in the I-League, thanks to some of the younger clubs in the country...
30-Oct-2009 11:22:11 AM
The I-League was something Indian football always needed. A professionally run, round-the-year football league, packaged in a form that even the football newbie would find attractive. On the plus side, it's done reasonably well over the past two seasons, and has definitely been an improvement on the rather drab NFL we had in place previously.
But for a professionally-run league, one needs to have the participating clubs run professionally too. We have almost all clubs complaining about the lack of professionalism shown by the AIFF, but rarely do you find them handling their own club in a professional manner. A classic case of "people living in glass houses..", and they not just throw stones, they pelt rocks.
Most of India's top clubs are run by officials who want their own share of the limelight, often choosing convenience over professionalism. That needs to change, desperately. A new breed of clubs, like Chirag United, Pune FC, Mumbai FC, Shillong Lajong etc have come to the fore, showing the big boys how it's done. Chirag were topping the I-League table just a few days back, while Pune and Lajong have both impressed with their football as well as with the support they are receiving at home.
However, reaching the pinnacle of Indian football on the pitch will take a while for these clubs, but what they're doing is raising the bar when it comes to club administration. While clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are democratic in nature, as their top officials are elected, the way they actually function on a daily basis is far from desirable.
While some of the big clubs like Mahindra United and Dempo are a lot smoother in the way they function, on the pitch as well as off it, the same can't be said about the others. The two Kolkata giants' problems are well-documented, and is turning off a lot of young football fans from them. Clubs like Churchill Brothers and Sporting Clube de Goa are sponsored by individuals or families, which gives them much more power than advisable, which at time does interfere with efficiency, as well as transparency.
Speaking to Goal.com was Asst. General Secretary of Chirag United, Mr.Siddhartha Bhattacharya, who is proud of the way his club functions. "We formed a company called Chirag Sports Pvt. Ltd, with directors from both the club's side, as well as from our sponsors, Chirag Computers. A football secretary looks exclusively after all football issues, while we have a general secretary as well. What is also different about us, is tha we involve our sponsors in every footballing decision that we make, unlike others", said the official.
In addition to the above, the club also has a Marketing Head, while player contracts and issues are looked after exclusively by Mr.Bhattacharya himself. While the man stayed mum about Mohun Bagan and East Bengal's way of functioning, he was emphatic in his assessment of Chirag's operations. He said, "You will observe from the moment you enter the club, that we are very professional in our daily work. We are very transparent, and another thing is that you will never find any player contract issues over here. There is a set hierarchy at the club, and everyone in his position is given complete freedom to do his work."
The big problem, for a club like Chirag, is creating a healthy fan base. In Kolkata, clubs like Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting have been followed for generations, with entire families supporting one of the clubs, and passing their love for the club down to their offsprings. However, with Chirag remaining relatively new in the mix, a fan base is what they are lacking at the moment.
"That remains our biggest problem. However, many people are taking notice of Chirag United now, especially as results are improving. We are working on the problem, and plan to organize some school football tournaments very soon. Also, we will start giving out memberships to fans in the time to come", said Mr.Bhattacharya. Chirag, as well as other clubs like Mumbai FC, Pune FC and the lot will have to come up with more innovative programmes to build a healthy fan base, and ensure a bright future.
While Lajong has more than a healthy home support, with 30,000 people flocking to the ground for both their home games so far, Pune FC attract about 7000-8000 people on an average, while the number is negligible for Mumbai FC. But the numbers aren't as important at the moment. What is crucial is that the clubs remain true to their values, and their new and more efficient way of functioning, because in the long run, it is this that will attract more and more youngsters to the club, as players and fans.
Pune FC coach recently explained to Goal.com how he managed to sign Player of the Year Subrata Paul from East Bengal. Despite being the best goalkeeper in the country, why did Paul go to a new I-League team? According to Pereira, Subrata's top priority was to go to a club which was professional in its outlook, which he was convinced of by Pune.
With the I-League as competitive as it is now, it is very much possible that such clubs will displace, or at least compete with the biggies at the top. Chirag are already in second place as I write this, while Lajong and Pune have both looked impressive, if not outstanding so far. JCT and Salgaocar, who lay a lot of emphasis on youth and the strength of their academy, are also doing well, so it is not naive for one to predict a lot of future success for these teams.
Positive results on the pitch, combined with a well-respected, progressive, and transparent nature of functioning of the club off the pitch, will only see these clubs' stock grow immensely. All football lovers in the country, who are not attached to any club as of now, will surely prefer to support these clubs, rather than one involved in petty politics.
The way Indian football functions has to be a thing of the past, and while the new clubs were learning all this while from the trophy-laden clubs of Indian football, they are the ones that will need to lead Indian football now, to a better and brighter future, remaining true to their methods throughout.
Only then will we truly have an I-League. I'll call it I-League 2.0.
Atishay Agarwal
But for a professionally-run league, one needs to have the participating clubs run professionally too. We have almost all clubs complaining about the lack of professionalism shown by the AIFF, but rarely do you find them handling their own club in a professional manner. A classic case of "people living in glass houses..", and they not just throw stones, they pelt rocks.
Most of India's top clubs are run by officials who want their own share of the limelight, often choosing convenience over professionalism. That needs to change, desperately. A new breed of clubs, like Chirag United, Pune FC, Mumbai FC, Shillong Lajong etc have come to the fore, showing the big boys how it's done. Chirag were topping the I-League table just a few days back, while Pune and Lajong have both impressed with their football as well as with the support they are receiving at home.
However, reaching the pinnacle of Indian football on the pitch will take a while for these clubs, but what they're doing is raising the bar when it comes to club administration. While clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are democratic in nature, as their top officials are elected, the way they actually function on a daily basis is far from desirable.
While some of the big clubs like Mahindra United and Dempo are a lot smoother in the way they function, on the pitch as well as off it, the same can't be said about the others. The two Kolkata giants' problems are well-documented, and is turning off a lot of young football fans from them. Clubs like Churchill Brothers and Sporting Clube de Goa are sponsored by individuals or families, which gives them much more power than advisable, which at time does interfere with efficiency, as well as transparency.
Speaking to Goal.com was Asst. General Secretary of Chirag United, Mr.Siddhartha Bhattacharya, who is proud of the way his club functions. "We formed a company called Chirag Sports Pvt. Ltd, with directors from both the club's side, as well as from our sponsors, Chirag Computers. A football secretary looks exclusively after all football issues, while we have a general secretary as well. What is also different about us, is tha we involve our sponsors in every footballing decision that we make, unlike others", said the official.
Reaping the rewards of a trouble-free management
In addition to the above, the club also has a Marketing Head, while player contracts and issues are looked after exclusively by Mr.Bhattacharya himself. While the man stayed mum about Mohun Bagan and East Bengal's way of functioning, he was emphatic in his assessment of Chirag's operations. He said, "You will observe from the moment you enter the club, that we are very professional in our daily work. We are very transparent, and another thing is that you will never find any player contract issues over here. There is a set hierarchy at the club, and everyone in his position is given complete freedom to do his work."
The big problem, for a club like Chirag, is creating a healthy fan base. In Kolkata, clubs like Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting have been followed for generations, with entire families supporting one of the clubs, and passing their love for the club down to their offsprings. However, with Chirag remaining relatively new in the mix, a fan base is what they are lacking at the moment.
"That remains our biggest problem. However, many people are taking notice of Chirag United now, especially as results are improving. We are working on the problem, and plan to organize some school football tournaments very soon. Also, we will start giving out memberships to fans in the time to come", said Mr.Bhattacharya. Chirag, as well as other clubs like Mumbai FC, Pune FC and the lot will have to come up with more innovative programmes to build a healthy fan base, and ensure a bright future.
While Lajong has more than a healthy home support, with 30,000 people flocking to the ground for both their home games so far, Pune FC attract about 7000-8000 people on an average, while the number is negligible for Mumbai FC. But the numbers aren't as important at the moment. What is crucial is that the clubs remain true to their values, and their new and more efficient way of functioning, because in the long run, it is this that will attract more and more youngsters to the club, as players and fans.
Choosing professionalism over trophies
Pune FC coach recently explained to Goal.com how he managed to sign Player of the Year Subrata Paul from East Bengal. Despite being the best goalkeeper in the country, why did Paul go to a new I-League team? According to Pereira, Subrata's top priority was to go to a club which was professional in its outlook, which he was convinced of by Pune.
With the I-League as competitive as it is now, it is very much possible that such clubs will displace, or at least compete with the biggies at the top. Chirag are already in second place as I write this, while Lajong and Pune have both looked impressive, if not outstanding so far. JCT and Salgaocar, who lay a lot of emphasis on youth and the strength of their academy, are also doing well, so it is not naive for one to predict a lot of future success for these teams.
Positive results on the pitch, combined with a well-respected, progressive, and transparent nature of functioning of the club off the pitch, will only see these clubs' stock grow immensely. All football lovers in the country, who are not attached to any club as of now, will surely prefer to support these clubs, rather than one involved in petty politics.
The way Indian football functions has to be a thing of the past, and while the new clubs were learning all this while from the trophy-laden clubs of Indian football, they are the ones that will need to lead Indian football now, to a better and brighter future, remaining true to their methods throughout.
Only then will we truly have an I-League. I'll call it I-League 2.0.
Atishay Agarwal
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