Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
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It is sad that Indian Football at the moment is resting at the very bottom even in Asia in terms of quality and ranking. That things are not well with Indian Football now for some years, has been very depressing, yet no tangible attempt has been visible from any quarter to improve the game. What is going on currently is simply running an All India Tournament in the disguise of brand promotion. Glossy without being productive. Competitive without being classy. Quantum in plenty without any quality.
Yet silver lining was still seen when seven years back India saw the beginning of a ‘ professional ’ football league in collaboration with Indian Football Federation by Football Sports Development Limited ( FSDL ). In fact All India Football Federation in 2010, signed a 15 year, Rs. 700-crore deal with Reliance Industries and the International Management Group and agreed to initiate a new professional league for the development of Indian football. Thus the Indian Super League was founded in October 2013 by IMG–Reliance, along with All India Football Federation and STAR Sports. The goal of the league was to make football a top sport in India. The league started in October 2014 with eight teams. Atlético de Kolkata was the inaugural champions.
Admittedly, during initial years, the league saw super stars such as Roberto Carlos, Alessandro Nesta, Tim Cahill, Robert Pires, Nicolas Anelka, Carlos Marchena, David Trezeguet, Alessandro Del Piero, Elano , Robbie Keane, Diego Forlán, Marco Materazzi, Florent Malouda, Luis García, Hélder Postiga amongst others. Presence of such galaxy of legends drew spectators in large numbers. Well, glimpses of their glorious past was also seen initially but all of them faded away too fast from the scenario and their replacements subsequently have been so pathetic in quality that hardly justified initial promises by ISL, the top tier football league in India. As a result, ISL has ultimately become just an ordinary football tournament being played in India.
Sadly, in the bargain, what has been observed is gradual decline of Indian Football in spite of promises made by FSDL. Hardly any new football talent has surfaced during last seven years who would serve the country well and long. Not a single footballer has come out of any process. If a couple amongst the ruins have shown, they have come up on their individual merit and attempt. Initially 5 and now 4 overseas players can play in the first XI of any team in ISL matches. The fact is that these foreign recruits are so poor in quality except a few that they should not merit a place in a team like Mohun Bagan & East Bengal, the two fan based premier club teams that have ruled Indian Football. With utmost humility, this can be said, loud and clear that in the seventh edition of ISL, there is not a single footballer, domestic or overseas, who can match the skill and guile even of a Indian footballer of seventies or eighties. None. The present defense lines of both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal offer a horrible look. Then what ISL or FSDL have done during the last seven years by running the show without contributing anything to Indian Football ? This is a fact that decline of these two famous club teams has paved the way for other teams vying in ISL to come up with their resources, whatever they have. If Mumbai FC is becoming Champion or Chennayan FC playing better does not mean that they have come up with brilliant Indian footballers. India’s recent International commitments speak volumes in support of this.
The running and managing the games in ISL also has left a lot to be desired. When millions have been spent, why compromise with quality supervision of matches ? Poor and erratic decision making by match referees often become a sore point for teams. When latest technology is available, why not take help of that to decide on crucial decisions ? Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is one technology which is not used at all in ISL !! The use of this technology has been very productive in World Cup and Euro Cup with the installation of several more cameras to pin point if a handball took place or a foul in penalty area happened or the ball had crossed the goal line or even an off side decision was correct or not. These not only helped improving the game but also instilled confidence amongst footballers to play with a free mind. The implementation of VAR is one example of how technology can be used to assist decision making. VAR intervention have been significantly enhanced the standard of the game at the very highest level.
It is sad that Indian Super League – the epitome of football supremacy in India amongst top teams is now trying to snatch away the very tradition of Indian Football that is more than a century old. Not only that, with this tradition, associated are huge sentiment, practically madness amongst supporters of the three most famous football teams this country has known – Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Md. Sporting with their umpteen number of fan following. This is of course without belittling any other team vying in ISL.
It is fact that football today in this country have become the process of money making for some and remaining in power for some other? Let it be. But what about the promises made by FSDL and Reliance-IMG combine to make Football in India, a top sport ! Nothing at all. Because they never tried to adapt any process through which young talented footballers would be spotted, brought under professional coaching scheme ( may be in line with NCA in Indian Cricket ) and then let loose to serve the country. Unless a scheme like this is undertaken by FSDL at their cost without any further delay, no meaningful contribution would be possible for Indian Football. What have been witnessed is simply hijacking of Indian Football by a privately owned company incorporated in India with the blessings of one of the richest corporate and spearheaded by its Chairwoman. That is close to insanity.
Ultimately, paucity of talented Indian footballers may gradually degenerate the ISL which might fizzle out earlier than contracted.
Featured Image : Internet.
