A few decades ago, when Maradona dribbled the ball across the ground, a wave of football mania began to sweep across India. During an age where most part of the country didn't have television in their homes, football was fast becoming a game to reckon with. Soon thereafter, when TV sets began to open windows in living rooms, the game too began to touch hearts. For a nation swimming in cricket frenzy, players like Pele, Maradona and Roberto Carlos began to ignite the passions of football.
But the epiphany set in when many began to realize that a nation of a billion people could not whip up a team to be among the 32 that play for the FIFA World Cup. Except for one occasion in 1950, India hasn't come close to playing in the popular tournament. During that time, the Indian Football Team was qualified by default due to a withdrawal of its scheduled opponents. But the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the country’s governing body of the game, could not send in a team, thus missing a historical milestone.
Ever since then, India has been struggling to get the football team registered and qualified for the prestigious event. It is disheartening to note that in a nation of countless talents, we are yet to find the perfect mix of players at the international level.
What is the problem behind this underachievement in football? Is it the steadfast love of Indians towards cricket that has undermined the rise of a national football team? Or are we simply not physically strong to take on this game of stamina?
Even when cricket drowns the nation’s love, a recent survey shows that interest in the game has never been higher. Go to any village or town and you can find youngsters (as well as veterans) trying their legs at a goal and wearing their favorite jerseys. There are football clubs all over the country and domestic tournaments and cups are held often.
On a macroscopic note, it is the evident that even with the rising popularity of the game, the absence of world class players in the country is what is pulling the national team back. Indian states like Kerala, West Bengal and Goa have been forefront in vying for domestic cups, but their resilience is yet to bear players of international mettle.
There are talks of conducting a football league championship modeled on the existing IPL tournament of cricket. This would apparently give players more exposure in the game and also promote it among the countrymen. But while this type of league tournaments would pay players better, it needn't necessarily make them world class players.
Recently in an interview, the national team captain Sunil Chhetri said that India should not think of qualifying for the world cup in the near future, but should instead focus on being among the top 10 in Asia. He does make a valid point.
For India to make a mark in the international scenario, the country must produce players with excellent physical strength and agility. In order to accomplish that, young talents should be scouted and given fitness programs and training in football academies.
India would play in the 2017 FIFA World Cup, courtesy of being the host nation, but that is not how we would like to see the country kick-off in the ground. If the government puts aside a trifle more effort to integrate sports and promote talent, India’s chances of making the World Cup may increase within a few years.
