Page 55 - Tehelka Issue 14E

OPINION SPORTS

Explained! Why India football after the golden period and

despite the continued love for the game
lags behind in football? in India. Evidently there is a combina-
tion of reasons which led to its virtual
demise at the international level.
Entry of politicians and bureaucrats
After the cult following for cricket, which is described by some was perhaps one of the most important
SPOTLIGHT as a religion in India, the most loved sport in the country is factors which has led to the present
sorry state of affairs. In the decades af-
undoubtedly football
VIPIN PUBBY ter the independence, political leaders
who had little knowledge or interest in
very time a major interna- ity of a historic Olympics final, the fact the game ‘captured’ important posts in
tional football tournament remains that the national team notched Associations. Their aim was only to gain
takes place, football fans several honours and won major Asian clout and tour abroad on jaunts osten-
Former resident editor burn midnight oil to watch tournaments during the Golden period sibly to attend meetings. Bureaucrats
of The Indian Express, telecast of live matches of Indian football. too found it lucrative to meddle in the
Vipin Pubby is a senior E which generally take place It won the Asian Games gold medal affairs of national and state associa-
journalist based in late at night because of the time zone of twice — in 1951 and 1962. It was also tions. It led to nepotism, favouritism,
Chandigarh. He can most football playing nations. There is twice runners-up in the Merdeka foot- political interference and also to less
be contacted at also a huge following for football clubs ball tournament in 1959 and 1964, and emphasis on training and nurturing of Yet football remains the most • Game for it It was only in 1999 that the first
vipinpubby@gmail. like Real Madrid and Chalsea. All this, in the Asia Cup in 1964. India finished players. This subsequently led to split popular sport after cricket. It has mass Indian player, Baichung Bhutia, opted to play in
com. The views despite the poor performance of the fourth in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in Associations as more such worthies following in states like West Bengal,
expressed are personal Indian football team in international and was the first Asian nation to reach sought to take control. Every state had Kerala, Goa and the north east. Some the professional league in England
arena. the Olympic football semi-final after de- two or more Associations claiming of the TV channels arranged for FIFA
It is now barely among the top 100 feating several other national teams. In- to represent the state. Instead of the World Cup commentary in Bengali and students have played at international
teams placed at the 97th rank by FIFA dia played with distinction in Olympics focus on players and the game, these other regional languages. level and seven of under 19 players in
which organises the Football World Cup from 1948 to 1960 when it had qualified became arenas of political intrigue and The decline in the popularity for India Team were from the Academy.
every four years. About three years ago for the Olympics for the last time. It has conspiracies. For instance even the football was also in direct proportion to It selects students from across the
it had slumped to 173rd position but for never been able to make it to the World small Union Territory of Chandigarh the rise of cricket as the favourite game. country after evaluating their potential
a billion strong nation, the 97th position Cup finals and since 1984 it has failed to had three factions for a long time. Partly it was due to a string of defeats and provide free boarding and lodging,
is no consolation. It is in fact a far cry reach even the Asia Cup final rounds. The failure of the government to in football and partly the increasingly schooling and coaching to the selected
from the glorious days of 1950s and 60s The last quarter-final appearance by an provide direction to the sport or to improved standards and victories in wards. Many of them are from the
when it was a dominant Asian team and Indian football team in the Asian Games restrict involvement of politicians cricket that propelled people to go north eastern region, West Bengal and
had been participating in Olympics and was in 1982 in Delhi. and bureaucrats led to the decay of for cricket. Credit is also due to the Goa. Then there are academies and
other international tournaments. Old timers would still recall names of the sport. It made virtually no effort professional marketing of cricket. clubs like Mahilpur Football Club set up
For some it may come as a big sur- great players during that period. These to nurture young players or hire top India’s victories over western countries, by an NRI and Minerva Football Club.
prise that India had actually reached the include Chuni Goswami, Jarnail Singh, foreign coaches to train the Indian particularly the UK, were other reasons Establishment of many more such
finals of the 1950 Olympics in football ! P.K. Banerjee, T. Balaram, Sudhir Kar- team. Similarly the government did not for cricket gaining popularity. academies is needed to help restore
This was, albeit, by default. All the other makar, Peter Thangaraj, Altaf Ahmed encourage clubs and failed to organise Despite the existence of popular glory of the game. It would hopefully
teams in the group figuring India had and Yusuf Khan, Prasun Banerjee and regular national level tournaments clubs like Mohan Bagan, Dempo, East help in getting crowds back to the
withdrawn from the Olympics for one Atanu Bhattacharya. Jarnail Singh even despite a heritage going back to 1888 Bengal, and Salgaokar etc no serious stadiums and no future Indian captain
Entry of politicians reason or the other and the Indian team captained the Asian All Stars XI. Besides when the Durand Cup football tourna- effort was made to market the game shall not have to appeal for attend-
ance at football matches as was done
him three other Indian players, Thanga-
ment was first introduced by the British like the transformation brought in by
automatically qualified for the finals.
and bureaucrats However it too pulled out of Olympics raj, Altaf Ahmed and Yusuf Khan, figured at Annandale Grounds in Shimla, the Indian Premier League (IPL) in cricket. recently by Sunil Chhetri. He recently
was perhaps one of and there is still a controversy on why in the Asian All Masters XI. former summer capital of the Raj. ued passion for Football, as witnessed appealed for more attendance dur-
But all is not lost still and the contin-
ing football matches : “Come to the
But despite their talent and capabil-
In fact there has been a sharp
it did so. The popular belief was that the
the most important indian football players lacked proper ity, none of them opted to turn profes- decline in the number of domestic during international matches despite stadium, do it (criticise) on our face,
factors which has gear including football shoes. It was sional or play for clubs abroad. They tournaments. As per records over the absence of India, can be rekindled. scream at us, shout at us, abuse us, who
125 domestic tournaments were held
In fact some efforts are already under-
knows one day we might change you
also pointed out that they were more
rather preferred secured government
led to the present comfortable playing barefoot but it was and public sector jobs despite getting during the 1960s and 1970s but the way and have begun to reap dividends. guys, you might start cheering for us.
For instance the establishment of
sorry state of affairs disallowed by the Olympics commit- offers to play for foreign clubs. It was number has now come down to less the Chandigarh Football Academy in You guys have no idea how important
you guys are and how important your
only 1999 that the first Indian player,
tee. Others say that Indian government
than a hundred. Major tournaments
of not only football refused financial support to the national Baichung Bhutia, opted to play in the like Federation Cup and the Nehru Cup 2000 by the then Punjab Governor support is,” the skipper appealed.
but other sports too team. professional league in England. has to be dropped off and in due to lack and UT Administrator Gen JFR Jacob, is LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
So what went wrong with Indian
But notwithstanding the possibil-
of fundings and sponsors
doing exceedingly well. Over 45 of its
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