Kaho na pyar hai

Mr Praful Patel is a good host. I must admit. Invited by him to attend a dinner at his sprawling kothi in central Delhi, we were happy. Rarely we have seen AIFF presidents hosting journalists and AIFF officials together at their residence. Mr Patel seemed to be an exception.

With Bob Houghton firing his salvo against AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco, the get together last week became very important. AIFF members from "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" had assembled right at the power centre on that night. It wasn't surprising to see everybody wore a wry and a forced smile. Most of them were tight-lipped about Bob Houghton's resignation besides the ridiculous manner in which the Federation work is handled by Colaco, who however looked somewhat lost in the crowd. In the darkness of the night, it was becoming difficult to read his face. We also couldn't notice whether his cheek glistened with tears. After all, he is the person who has brought Indian football to such a standstill. I think he was feeling a bit embarassed to move around in the crowd.

But one thing I still couldn't understand. Why the influential members (vice-presidents & ex-co members) remained quiet even after his spat with the English coach. But nobody knows who had authorised the Goan to look for a new coach. If Colaco has been branded as incompetent, what would you say about the members who enjoy all-paid trip to Delhi, gulp a couple of pegs and then hob-nob with the ministers.

Actually, none of these officials want to blast Colaco in the open. But whenever there has been a Colaco-bashing in the media, they would smile. That's it. At the AIFF meetings, none of them would be vocal. So, what are their roles? Participate in gossips and add fuel to the fire? Or look for outstation tours with the Indian teams. Ask them about the development programmes, I'm sure, they will stammer. Enquire about their contribution to their respective states, they will drag you into a different conversation.

We have been told and re-told about Bob's status that he is staying. But Colaco didn't speak much because he had already spoiled everything. So finally, with all his experience, Mr Patel had to douse the flame (Bob controversy), for now. And Colaco heaved a sigh of relief.

We need positive thinkers

I was visiting my home town almost after a year. Calcutta welcomed me with its sudorific and sticky weather. So much so that my spotless white shirt was almost wet even before I could reach the Jadavpur University campus. Yet, the energy sapping heat couldn't really dampen my spirit as football and Calcutta were on my mind. Thanks to the Valerian Soccer Foundation and Jadavpur University, who had invited me to speak at their International Summit on Football.

I was to speak on a topic which has been my forte "Indian Football and It's Uncertain Future". To be honest, I didn't want to sound too negative and cynical in my speech. But the content of Indian football is much of negativities that I couldn't help. Though, till that point of time, Mahindra United still existed as a football team and Indian coach Bob Houghton didn't vent his frustration with his pay package and contract.

But a week after my speech at the seminar, I think, I was right.

As I write back on the upheaval, I still believe, that some pragmatic thoughts, a bold effort can do a world of good to Indian game. There has to a definite plan and programme and the presence of smart marketing executives who have a football knowledge. After having watched Indian football during these transition period first a young follower in Calcutta (from 1981 to 1993) and then as a soccer writer from 1994 till date and having traveled throughout the country, I can foresee a better future. Provided, we have a system under young administrators where our game can grow and breathe properly.

Let’s take Calcutta for example. Clubs there are like the Marxist government of West Bengal. They never changed with time but followed an age-old pattern. Ironically, like the Communist-led Bengal, the clubs are also struggling to stay afloat. Even with the advent of EPLs, World Cups and top international events which was beamed live and the presence of a strong media, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting officials didn’t embrace professionalism. They stuck to an old system. They completely ignored the importance of a dietician, physical fitness trainers. Besides organising their local league matches during the intense heat of the summer slowly sounded the death knell for Calcutta teams. Like the Marxist regime in the state, professionalism is one word which the club officials haven’t understood well.

Now let’s come to the national perspective. Money is a big factor in modern sport. Why should corporates invest money? What are the ROIs? From 2007 to 2010. Indian football has had some the most memorable victories in recent times. Nehru Cup win could have helped the Indian federation shut out those who cast a doubt on its future. Has Alberto Colaco been able to create a brand out of these victories? The sequence of Subrata Paul’s penalty saves in the final hogged the limelight in the 2009 final. But sadly, AIFF never made an effort to make this news a little bit bigger.
Three years back, a top auction house committed themselves to promote football. They decided to sponsor Durand Cup, world’s third oldest football event. But the honeymoon between the corporate and the event management company got over quickly. Those who managed the Durand Cup were non-entities in football. I’m sure the entire lot inside AIFF lack in creativity.

In sports, like in other walks of life, you cannot have emotional fools. You need to have a realistic and a practical approach. I guess, that’s what is lacking in Calcutta clubs. Calcutta clubs lives on a tradition as I had said like the Marxist rulers of Bengal. The biggest reason for their decline is that they couldn’t adjust to the changes. In Mohun Bagan for instance, the physio is not a qualified one. But he has been doing his job more than 30 years now. It was only during East Bengal’s campaign for the Asean Cup in 2003 that the then coach Subhash Bhowmick recommended for gym, swimming pool and a qualified fitness trainer for the players. But then that was it.

Actually, AIFF doesn’t have a definite plan and strategy to market the game. They are yet to deliver on this aspect. There are no promotional activities. They don’t know how to create a hype. After India won the Nehru Cup last year, the best thing the AIFF could have done was to promote the entire team and create a brand. The picture of the Nehru Cup wielding Indian team faded faster. Even when the U-23 team won the SAFF Cup in Dhaka in December, the Federation failed to identify the brownie points. All such victories by your national teams can give you a better ROI if they are marketed well. We need marketing experts instead of a power-hungry secretary who just want to make Football House his own.

I'm a positive person and I still see a hope. But in the first place, the AIFF should engage genuine professionals having adequate knowledge about the game and those who have a vision. Right now, the Federation needs young, energetic, unselfish and honest secretary. There has to be some accountability for his action. Proper representation from the states to the executive committee is also important. Mr Praful Patel has brought in resources. Now to spend those funds you need some qualified finance managers.

During a visit to a Delhi school, I was shocked to learn that none of its tiny players knew our first Indian XI (barring Baichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri). It was quite disappointing. All they know is about Rooney, Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi. I don’t blame them. I blame the AIFF. I blame the coaches at the grassroot level who train them. How can somone become a football coach without knowing Indian football history? It’s a crime. Chhetri’s joining the MLS can infact become a great selling point for AIFF. Only if they had advertised themselves in a proper way. Those who are involved with football should explain and motivate the kids citing Chhetri’s example. But who wants to work hard?