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Indian football team
Recent results in failing to defend the SAFF championships are quite demotivating. India also failed to qualify for the final round of AFC challenge cup which means that India will not be in contention for an automatic berth in 2015 AFC Asian Cup which is the continent’s flagship tournament.
The silver lining which outlined these dark clouds was the signing of Subrata Paul by Danish Superliga side FC Vestsjaelland(FC Vikings) after a three week trial stint with the club. This makes him the first Indian player to join a top tier side in Europe.
Although this highlights a watershed moment in Indian football, it is equally important to not get complacent and highly satisfied by this result. We must continue to churn out more talented players.The fire in the belly must be eternal and not ephemeral.
The recent developments in Indian football have been quite remarkable. Big corporates and NRI investors are showing deep interest in Indian football. Many football analysts claim that India is an emerging and hidden market for football. I-league attendance has shown appreciable improvements and fan following has increased in an exponential amount.
The Kolkata derby between arch rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal saw an attendance of 100,000-much more than an El classico, North London or even Manchester derby matches. There has also been an escalating rise in young talented footballers from India as many young Indians have been signed up by Malaysian, Portuguese and English youth academies showing sparks of a bright future which lies ahead.
FIFA has opened numerous regional academies in India to scout talent. Many European clubs like Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid etc are looking to broaden their presence in Asia by exploring the Indian market.
IMG-Reliance has proposed an Indian Super League along the lines of Indian Premier League in Cricket which could provide the much needed commercialization Indian football needs. International names like Dwight Yorke, Kenny Dalglish, Robert Pires, etc. have been associated with this league.
India has made a realistic bid for hosting the U-17 World Cup which could act as a catalyst to develop the current infrastructure.1994 World Cup changed the football scenario in USA and 2002 World cup saw Japan emerge as an Asian giant in football.
Although hosting the World cup could still be a few years away due to the current infrastructure, an U-17 tournament could prove to be a game changer in small ways. If Qatar can win the bid for hosting the FIFA WC in 2022,there is no reason India cannot host the World Cup.
There is a cramped mentality among high officials of looking at the benefits and profits,the immediate consequences and prompt results after taking a step forward. Top management should however realize that long term thinking with short term realistic goals is the key to counter this challenge posed by Indian football.
Rome was not built in a day. There are many Indians who would want to look at an Indian football team adroit in every department playing beautiful football pleasing to the eye and winning matches at the international level.
Many Indians would want a team which will sing the national anthem wearing the tricolured jersey in a football world cup. All the Indian football fans would surely get goosebumps,the day we play our first ever game at a FIFA world cup. The following twenty years are extremely crucial for development of Indian football. If sports analysts and football pundits are to be believed,football could replace cricket as the new religion in India.
