Kick-off time

Will Bharti’s Rs 1 billion investment revive Indian football? Bivabasu Kumar tries to find the answer

Indian football is at the cusp of a new beginning. With the Bharti Enterprises announcing a Rs 100-crore foray into the sport, Indian football is bound to undergo a sea change.

But other than the steps mulled by the corporate giant in an MoU with the All India Football Federation to build a world-class academy and sponsor the U-16 team that has qualified for the Asia Cup final, there are a host of other things that require attention. The question is can such investments be utilised for maximum benefit?

India captain Bhaichung Bhutia said there is a need to educate trainers at the grassroots level as lack of advanced training prevents Indian players from attaining international standards.

Bhutia lamented that there are innumerable players who have the natural talent for football, but fail to make it to the big league owing to inadequate training methods and faulty selection processes.

Bhutia lauded the move to build a football academy on the lines of those in Europe and Latin America and said the system should be revamped to accommodate skilled administrators.

Veteran footballer Chuni Goswami felt that the game is limited to a few states and a lot needs to be done to improve the game at the national level. “Football is limited in terms of its popularity and has failed to soar beyond a certain point,” he said.

Goswami, who had played in the 1956 Olympic semifinal in Melbourne, said there is no dearth of talent in the country but it’s the system that prevents the game from flourishing. Added Bhutia: “The system has not changed since 1960.

The game has evolved manifold, but Indian administrators haven’t. How can one expect to qualify for the Olympics?”

Players at the national level do not get adequate international exposure and it is another hindrance to the national team failing to shine at the international level. Goswami rued the lack of modern training academies and said the lone Tata Football Academy is insufficient to ratchet out quality footballers.

“More and more players should be sent abroad and a plan should be set to achieve long-term goals like the 2018 FIFA World Cup,” he said. The veteran footballer sighted Japan as example explaining how it developed from a rookie to a World Cup playing nation.

Mahindra United coach Derrick Pereiraendorsed the need for a system and pressed for more professional coaches for a nation of one billion people. He also demanded the need to educate coaches and urged for more accountability amongst players and administrators.

“Clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal are showing interest in Indian football and it is indicative of the vast talent pool in the country.

It is important that corporates like the Essel Group, Mahindras and the Bharti Enterprises chalk out detailed plans with the AIFF to train players and prepare India for the 2018 FIFA World Cup,” he said.

The money debate

AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco refused to go into details about the monetary promise (Rs.1 billion investment) by Bharti Enterprises and said the AIFF and Bharti have tied up to build an academy.

“The academy will be built and run by Bharti. Since the academy will be built according to international standards, Bharti has committed to spend a considerable amount of money. There are, however, no figures mentioned in the MOU,” Colaco said.