Own goals aplenty
One thing that has to be given to AIFF, is that they have sought out every possible avenue to gather steam for the sport. But, somehow they have ended up scoring an own goal. Whether it was from the national team’s perspective (about whom even Prime Minister spoke a few days back) or the handling of any difficult situations. Whether it be handling of Mohun Bagan’s ban or trying to encourage corporate by giving them direct entry, it’s been a case of pure madness ensuing.
10 clubs have shut down operations the last decade. And even more alarmingly, of the 10, 5 have done so in the last eight months.
“The AIFF has failed the country. 70% of the state boards don’t even have offices, and they say we have misunderstood,” rages a furious Peter Vaz, the chairman of Sporting Clube de Goa, who was one of the most vocal members in the meeting when the AIFF invited club to take in their presentation of the way ahead.
“The clubs get nothing. Not enough money or say in the things. People who don’t anything about football and trying to run the sports. They have sold the Federation to Reliance.
“They want us to build fanbases like the Kolkata giants. But Kolkata is 100 times bigger than Goa and that’s why you get 100 times bigger crowd there. They are just looking for needles in a haystack. They want to pinpoint our failures and not say anything about the positives we have done all these years.
“Ask the President if he has ever congratulated any club personally on winning a trophy. Ask him about the condition in which the U-16 and U-18 games are played,” rammed home Peter Vaz in an outburst.
The Sporting Clube de Goa chief also blasted the federation for the way Praful Patel and co. have been running the Federation. He claims that the subordinate bodies i.e. the state associations have no say in the running, which he says is borderline illegal. Mr. Vaz also believes there should an equal the clubs and the subordinate states in running the body.
So what now?
If Dempo also pulls out from the coming I-League, the league will be diminished to six clubs. That would surely be nothing but a shame. Thus, for many, this might feel like exploiting the game rather than uplifting it.
This somehow look all terribly planned. Trying to fit in square peg in round holes. Making things happens not because they are supposed, but because they want it to happen even of it goes against all odds and wishes. The challenge to make the ISL a credible entity or just playing a dummy ruler?
The AIFF has to look at the future of not only the I-League, but also the ISL. For the Indian Super League, to become FIFA recognised, it has to be stretched across five months. It can no longer be just a short outburst of a footballing carnival anymore.
It has to engage the crowd over the long haul. A slogan of “Let’s football” won’t do anymore. They have to engage them, make them come to the stadium week after week, which will be a challenge of the highest order.
Kushal Das wants the clubs to stick around and wait for the club’s turn to participate in a more expanded competition which will feature 15-16 teams with relegation and promotion clauses. But, that he says will take nearly 7-8 years to achieve. But, how will the clubs sustain themselves till then? Just like the AIFF, if they take the practical route, it would lead them to shut down their operations.
Indian football as it is now is on shaky grounds. Indeed, ‘Winter is here’!
