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Comment: Indian Football’s Next Level...
Nilesh Pinto talks about how Indian football can be taken to the next level...
21-Nov-2009 2:52:17 PM
FIFA released its updated international rankings on Friday
with India moving up 3 spots to 135th in the world. Their best
ranking since 2005, but it still reflects the relatively under-developed state
of the beautiful game in the country.
Under the management of Bob Houghton, the national team has certainly made some significant strides in the last couple of years winning the Nehru Cup and the AFC Challenge Cup. The I-League, too, has greatly contributed to the development of football in India. However, Indian football still lacks that something extra to take it to the next level.
Like in the case of any other sport in India, barring cricket, it is infrastructure which is lacking the most. The stadiums and facilities are no way near world-class standards. The condition of the playing surfaces doesn’t come close to the finely manicured and textured pitches of the stadiums in Europe. One hopes that the Commonwealth Games scheduled for next year in New Delhi will be the incentive to develop the infrastructure.
The comparative physical inferiority of players from the Asian continent was often cited as a reason for their general lack of success in the sport. However, the recent success of teams like Japan and South Korea and players like Manchester United’s Ji-Sung Park suggests otherwise.
In order for Indian players to reach that level, they need to be exposed to life in the big league and conditions abroad, especially in top-notch training facilities like in England and Spain. Only two Indian players can actually boast of this. Bhaichung Bhutia enjoyed a stint with English League One side FC Bury while Sunil Chhetri had a trial at Coventry City earlier this year.
As mentioned earlier, the I-League has made a significant contribution in enhancing the quality of football in India. The local lads have received the opportunity to play alongside some experienced and quality foreign players. At the same time, however, it can be observed that the clubs focus more on maximizing the potential of the foreign recruits rather than developing domestic talent. This needs to change.
The entry of corporate has certainly helped football in India at the top level at least. It is at the grass-roots level, however, that the money is of prime importance. The training academies need investments so that they hone talent right from the grass-roots. Many young and promising players leave the sport after they complete school as they see no future especially in terms of monetary gains. The Indian Federation needs to encourage foreign scouts to visit the country and spot young talent so that they can be provided with the best opportunities to fulfill their potential.
Management is another area where football in the country can do with a bit of enhancement. Recruitment of foreign coaches has become the norm in recent seasons, but it is the Indian coaches and managers that need quality international training. It is important for there to be strong organization both on the field as well as off it.
One thing, though, that could single-handedly revolutionalize Indian football is the fan-following. There is certainly no dearth of football fans in India. But there is a scarcity of fans of Indian football. A fan from Mumbai is more likely to fly to London to watch Arsenal in action than watching Mahindra United in his own backyard, even though it would most certainly cost far less. What the I-League and Indian football in general, needs, is a brilliant marketing plan.
The Premier League wasn’t always as popular in India as it is now. It was slowly and steadily marketed to Indian audiences and today the results are there for everyone to see. The European leagues in general have attracted a large fan following in India because of the in-depth coverage given to them coupled with attractive presentation. The broadcasting of Indian football has to be made far more exciting if the Indian football supporter is to be attracted to it. A kind of culture has to be created, on the lines of what the IPL has done for cricket in just two years.
For Indian football as a whole to move to the next level, the development of the sport at the grass-roots level has to be the main priority. Youth development holds the key to the future of Indian football otherwise it will continue to remain a case of unfulfilled potential.
Nilesh Pinto
Under the management of Bob Houghton, the national team has certainly made some significant strides in the last couple of years winning the Nehru Cup and the AFC Challenge Cup. The I-League, too, has greatly contributed to the development of football in India. However, Indian football still lacks that something extra to take it to the next level.
Like in the case of any other sport in India, barring cricket, it is infrastructure which is lacking the most. The stadiums and facilities are no way near world-class standards. The condition of the playing surfaces doesn’t come close to the finely manicured and textured pitches of the stadiums in Europe. One hopes that the Commonwealth Games scheduled for next year in New Delhi will be the incentive to develop the infrastructure.
The comparative physical inferiority of players from the Asian continent was often cited as a reason for their general lack of success in the sport. However, the recent success of teams like Japan and South Korea and players like Manchester United’s Ji-Sung Park suggests otherwise.
In order for Indian players to reach that level, they need to be exposed to life in the big league and conditions abroad, especially in top-notch training facilities like in England and Spain. Only two Indian players can actually boast of this. Bhaichung Bhutia enjoyed a stint with English League One side FC Bury while Sunil Chhetri had a trial at Coventry City earlier this year.
As mentioned earlier, the I-League has made a significant contribution in enhancing the quality of football in India. The local lads have received the opportunity to play alongside some experienced and quality foreign players. At the same time, however, it can be observed that the clubs focus more on maximizing the potential of the foreign recruits rather than developing domestic talent. This needs to change.
The entry of corporate has certainly helped football in India at the top level at least. It is at the grass-roots level, however, that the money is of prime importance. The training academies need investments so that they hone talent right from the grass-roots. Many young and promising players leave the sport after they complete school as they see no future especially in terms of monetary gains. The Indian Federation needs to encourage foreign scouts to visit the country and spot young talent so that they can be provided with the best opportunities to fulfill their potential.
Management is another area where football in the country can do with a bit of enhancement. Recruitment of foreign coaches has become the norm in recent seasons, but it is the Indian coaches and managers that need quality international training. It is important for there to be strong organization both on the field as well as off it.
One thing, though, that could single-handedly revolutionalize Indian football is the fan-following. There is certainly no dearth of football fans in India. But there is a scarcity of fans of Indian football. A fan from Mumbai is more likely to fly to London to watch Arsenal in action than watching Mahindra United in his own backyard, even though it would most certainly cost far less. What the I-League and Indian football in general, needs, is a brilliant marketing plan.
The Premier League wasn’t always as popular in India as it is now. It was slowly and steadily marketed to Indian audiences and today the results are there for everyone to see. The European leagues in general have attracted a large fan following in India because of the in-depth coverage given to them coupled with attractive presentation. The broadcasting of Indian football has to be made far more exciting if the Indian football supporter is to be attracted to it. A kind of culture has to be created, on the lines of what the IPL has done for cricket in just two years.
For Indian football as a whole to move to the next level, the development of the sport at the grass-roots level has to be the main priority. Youth development holds the key to the future of Indian football otherwise it will continue to remain a case of unfulfilled potential.
Nilesh Pinto
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