'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Dear Reliance and IMG,
I have been an avid follower of Indian football ever since I was introduced to the game. I have grown up watching the likes of Baichung Bhutia, Rennedy Singh, Climax Lawrence and many others play. But I have also grown up watching players play in empty stadiums.
Apart from the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, I-League matches have often been played in empty stadiums. There was a time when the Durand Cup matches at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi witnessed packed houses. But sadly, not only has the importance of the Durand Cup declined over the years but Delhi crowds have stopped coming to the stadium as well.
The reasons are not hard to find; lack of quality players, inability of the clubs to connect with the fans, odd kick-off timings, poor infrastructure etc. being a few of them.
The Hero ISL is yet to end but it would not be wrong to admit that the tournament has been a success. One of its biggest achievements has been that it has brought the fans to the stadiums.
Celebs in corporate boxes, improved stadiums, the fireworks, food counters, talented players and some quality football; you guys have given us more than we could have asked for. I had never thought that I would see Freddie Ljunberg playing alongside Syed Rahim Nabi, Robert Pires partnering Clifford Miranda or Josemi supporting Arnab Mondal!
I was present at the stadium to watch the inauguration ceremony. Put simply, it was just outstanding. A ceremony of that sort was something that had never been seen before in Indian football. However, while I was watching it, a part of me was skeptical; perhaps scared. I wondered whether the quality of football on the pitch could ever match to all that was happening off it.
After 47 matches, the truth is I am no longer worried. Overcoming some drab matches initially, the league has picked and over the past few weeks, matches have been entertaining and competitve. In a recent newspaper article, Trevor Steven stated that the Pune-ATK match was more watchable than the Man.Utd-Hull EPL game!
Mathematically, all teams have a chance of making the semis and that is something wonderful. What is also nice to see is that apart from the foreign players, the Indian players have also made an impact. In fact, some Indian players have outshone their overseas counterparts.
The likes of Milagres Gonsalves, TP Rehneesh, Romeo Fernandes etc. have really made an impression. For players like Anwar Ali and Meharjuddin Wadoo, this is well and truly their second coming.
Young players like Durga Boro and Alan Deory who are yet to play in the I-League have done pretty well. The ISL has been instrumental in unearthing the hidden gems of Indian football while at the same time bringing some of the world’s best players to the Indian spectators.
When the National Football League was introduced in 1996, it was expected to take football in India to the next level. Unfortunately, that never happened. When the I-league came into the picture, a similar hope was generated but there was a similar outcome like the previous one. With the advent of the ISL, it finally looks like Indian football is in the right hands.
A lot of work is left to be done. You guys need to work with the I-League clubs. We don’t want another Mahindra United or JCT. There needs to be substantial development at the grassroots level.
Further, I feel that the number of Indians in the starting lineup should be increased. Proper infrastructure is not yet in place, but I believe you guys are making an earnest effort towards developing that.
Indian football has for long been in the wilderness. We are not yet out of it, but I hope that with your continued support, we are able to do that. So, until then, “Let’s Football!!”
Regards,
A football fan
