Change the Game!

Beer and Football, what can get better than that? As consumerism flourishes in India, Pub Culture has become vogue and when combined with the beautiful game, we have a winner. It has brought those Indians who literally never watched the game(forget playing) to start rooting for their favorite teams. It’s the latest cool quotient. But then, this article isn’t about alcohol, it’s about Football. Nevertheless, if it helps bring Football into contention and saves a certain Mr. Mallya from bankruptcy, a job well done I say. Wearing a Rs. 3000 Barcelona jersey to a pub doesn’t make you the next Xavi, it just shows how rich you are. But then, Football isn’t just a rich man’s game. It’s a game for all and sundry and that’s why we love it.

We boast of one of the oldest football tournaments in the world, courtesy the British of course. We lapped up everything they had to offer – their language and Cricket being the major ones. But post the 50s and 60s, the game of Football only saw deterioration. In Kerala, West Bengal and Goa, people are still fanatical about it. In a Cricket frenzied nation, these states still bear the burden of keeping those embers glowing. But that’s where the buck stops. The fire still seems to be missing.

With a huge following of the English Premier League and the recently concluded UEFA Euro, we are not short on supporters. That’s the beauty of the game, that sitting miles away, we support European clubs and countries whose matches we may never be able to see in person. That’s packaging at it’s best. Obviously we love it because of the players, but then it wouldn’t have been possible without the broadcasters who make the stadiums look like a modern day Colosseum and the players like gladiators. If it takes commercialization of the game for us to follow it, so be it. Of course, together with the money, we need to up the talent bank, the infrastructure and our very own I-league. An allegedly rigged league(read IPL) can be followed so much in India; it shows that we are a sports loving country. It’s very ambitious to talk about it but if can have another Team India competing against the very best at a World Cup, imagine the sheer joy that it will bring to the nation. With big brands talking about changing the game and European powerhouses setting up football academies, things do look positive and who knows, maybe in another 15 to 20 years we can give Spain a run for their money. As for now, we can have another pint and bask in the glory of the Spaniards.

Hope is the word. Amen.