India’s ‘Super’ Football League – Is this really what Indian football needs?

There is a news item in the media today that Star Sports, IMG and Reliance have come together to organize a football tournament. The event is likely to be held in January next year and will finish by March. In this format, a few foreign players will be allowed to play in each team.

There will be eight city based teams. The concept of a marquee player will also be there. Primarily, the whole concept is relying on the broadcasting by star sports. Also, the importance of the event is visible – Reliance is really a big brand for endorsement of any event. Also, IMG are best professionals in organizing and promoting the big sporting events.

In fact, on paper it appears to be a very noble idea. Every sports lover would like to see football growing in this nation where it is a popular street game. With the origin of Bhaichung Bhutia and company, football has gained immense popularity – especially during last decade.

But the ground reality is that the attachment of masses with football is deteriorating, at least when it comes to playing professionally. Apart from West Bengal, North East, Goa and Maharashtra, which are the traditional hubs, all other states have failed to come up with even a single popular tournament.

A player who represents his state is hardly given a decent job by PSUs. Unfortunately, we have failed to promote football. Whatever little growth is seen on papers is very marginal in the large country like India.

In Delhi, Durand and DCM tournaments used to be the most sought after events. Ambedkar stadium was a place full of non-stop footballing activities during the season. East Bengal, Mohan Bagan, Mohambdan Sporting, JCT mills Phagwara and RAC Bikaner were hot favourite teams. But now no one really bothers and one can notice empty stands even in the semi-final stage.

For school boys Subroto cup was the most prestigious tournament. Even in Delhi league, many of the fans used to wait for the season to start. Local and national papers had a trend to cover the matches in detail. My uncle used to tell us about the spicy clash between the City club and the National club. Many local footballers used to get job in Railways, Postal and Telegraph department.

Now neither do the dedicated fans exist nor do we have a breed of talented and hardworking players.

The federations have not fulfilled their roles for spreading the game all around. Priya Ranjan Dass Munshi, the ex-cabinet minister had a strong commitment for the game of soccer, but even he could not do much in front of the ever powerful federations and associations.

The matter of the fact is that the younger generation has cricket on their priority list. As of today it seems impossible that the corporate world is ready to invest huge sum in football. Even this proposed IMG league, which in its early days had contributed in raising the interest of a common man, has failed to sustain the tempo.

The bitter truth is we do not have even 5% of the infrastructure required. Be it the number of stadiums or coaches. We have failed to develop a series of tournaments in a professional manner even at the state level.

Though the idea of a new league is very viable and thrilling, but one must understand that IPL got success because India has achieved a position in the world of cricket. We have become a force to reckon with. So the foreigners are tempted to come and not only earn a hefty amount but also get to learn a lot about spin bowling on dusty Indian pitches

After all sport has become a huge commercial venture. First you have to invest, and then make the event popular. Only then comes the time when you earn.

Unfortunately many of the true supporters cannot even afford to buy a 100 rupee ticket for a football match! Barring a few big grounds in the big metropolitan cities in West Bengal, North East or Goa, small cities’ stadiums are not even maintained owing to shortage of budget.

But still if the organizers are serious for promotion of the game, they must chalk out a dedicated plan for the growth of football at grass root level. Beginning from remote villages and tribal areas, sufficient funds should be allotted and a mechanism should be framed for identification of talent at sub junior level.

There is no dearth of potential in rural India and the girls in Archery and Field hockey have proved it recently. But this also remains a hardcore fact that India is still standing among the lower steps of the FIFA ladder at 147. Best wishes any way!!!