by Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
090
Bengal (West Bengal) has won the Santosh Trophy ( National Inter-state Football Championship ) after a gap of 8 years – for the 33rd time in the 78 year old history of the tournament. It was a 94th minute strike from Robi Hansda against Kerala which sealed the fate for Bengal in the final, held at the Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad on 31st December 2024. In a way, it has been a huge New Year gift for football lovers.
Who is this Rabi Hansda ? Ask any sports lovers in the country, hardly any one would come forward with the correct answer except a few who have played or coached him recently. Ask any other name of the winning Bengal team, perhaps not many answers would be forthcoming from so called sports lovers, who spend and write a lot on poor show by Indian Cricket Team against Australia.
Well, fans can not be blamed either. Once Bengal football meant the presence of so many stalwarts who had been of International standard then. Once, Bengal, Punjab, Hyderabad and Kerala have been key producers of great footballers that served Indian football with pride. In those days, Bengal team in Santosh Trophy used to include any player who was playing in Bengal, irrespective of their place of birth. But today, ‘son of the soil’ has been introduced and naturally, there have been a divide of standard in national football championship.
Surprisingly though not at all unexpectedly, the national media along with the National Federation have remained luke warm even about this high profile event. It is gathered that no official from AIFF have been in visibility in grounds during the tournament. Neither the President, nor the Secretary not even any one from the National Selection Committee were said to be present during the entire tournament or in the Final. But these stake holders of Indian Football would be very much present during Indian Super League Inauguration and Finals along with FSDL honchos just to be clicked for media. Very sad. You are running the National Championship and no one from your Federation would be present to assess the quality of footballers and you would expect the National Team to play better Internationally? Can any one answer why the present National Coach, Manolo Márquez, a Spanish professional was not there during the tenure of the tournament and specially in the Final ? How can he spot a better player to play for India if he does not witness any match from being in the ground ? Well, no point asking, how and why Manolo Márquez, a coach of FC Goa in ISL, has been chosen as India Head Coach. One can not expect any answer from a politically controlled Federation, neither any transparency or correct judgment at all. There has to be some interest somewhere. The choice of Manolo does not meet any criterion. Like it or lump it. What wisdom the Federation had to fix the Final on the 31st December from 7.30 pm when expectedly whole country would be celebrating in ushering the New Year. Quite naturally, the stands in the stadium was almost empty and hardly a few spectators had witnessed this glorious victory by Bengal.
It is fancy for Indian clubs and National Federation to hire foreign coaches for improved Indian Football. But fact remains that, in spite of two decades of coaching by foreigners starting from Bob Houghton, Indian football has not progressed practically anywhere to be reckoned with. ! As a result, fan following has also diminished because there is no emotional attachment. During the days of P K Banerjee as Coach, stake holders had all the passion irrespective of ultimate result which was definitely better than what we see today.
Most depressing is the fact that winning Coach of Bengal Team this time, Sanjay Sen, it is gathered, not even been congratulated officially by AIFF, neither by its President for the stupendous job done. Sanjay Sen is not a new comer, rather he is a veteran and had won I-League for Mohun Bagan and has been in focus with ATK and Mohun Bagan under Habas. A good man, an outspoken person with a very keen football sense and open mind. Sen having the requisite qualification and knowledge could well be given the India job and he should be doing better only because his National passion will be much larger than any foreign coach.
It is tempting and not unrelated to bring in focus the Indian Super League scenario here. ISL started in 2014 by AIFF in collaboration with IMG Reliance, Star Sports and included in its early years, some of the legendary international footballers in different teams. Players like Roberto Carlos, Robert Pires, Diego Forlan, Alessandro Del Piero, Nicolas Anelka, David Trezeguet, Lucio, Luis Garcia, Elano Blumer, Marco Materazzi, Helder Postiga, Tim Cahill amongst others were brought in to participate in Indian Super League with an eye to improve Indian football.
It is regretted, that even with such presence of galaxy, the National Team has not inched any way for last one decade, rather, India has now dropped to 126th position in world and 22nd in Asia. Imagine, once the Asian champion and runner up in early 60s and Bronze medal winner in 1970 Asian Games, now struggle even in beating Nepal and Bangladesh.
AIFF can not pass on the buck. They must take the responsibility along with Central Sports Ministry, who must be accountable for such poor show by Indian Football team. It is unimportant whether Mrs. Nita Ambani is included in the FIFA Gov. Council by dint of her being the chief of FSDL, the organizers of Indian Super league, but selection of Chief Coach like Sanjay Sen, hailed by Bob Houghton as the best Indian Coach and a solid team under him is what football fans will look forward to.
Concluded….
