Indian Football: Quantity can become quality

Quite ignorant I was about the population count of my very own country. This morning something struck me and I sat down with Google, it was really good to see my country has a population of 1.237 billion and then that distressing bug got inside my head.

Is it that tough to point out 11 real competent players among 1.237 billion people and train them to form a well efficient national team in India? Is it really not possible to find out one player from each state in India who can probably be the best of the state?

With a population of 198.7, 81.89, 60.92, 47.27, 41.09 million respectively, countries like Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain and Argentina have produced the legends of world football. As per my knowledge, science never stated that these countries have football in their genes; neither are they injected with super powers. What makes them excel in football so much more than us?

Is it only about the infrastructure of India which is lagging behind or is it also about the right attitude? Why our country’s youth so scared to accept the fact that someday our national team can be seen representing our country in FIFA World Cup? Why it is said that this dream is next to impossible when I just found out that my country is leading far ahead in terms of population which makes it easier for us to find out quality.

I am tired of reading articles and viewing interviews which just speaks about the drawbacks of Indian football. It seems we know everything, from head to toe but when it comes to execution we act like disables. What’s wrong with our system? Even if something is being done, the processes are just too slow and thus remain unnoticed.

For example, when Argentina’s football team had come to play a match in Kolkata in 2011, we had seen a complete different picture of Yuva Bharati Krirangan which definitely made us feel really proud.

What happened to all the initiatives that were taken to renovate the stadium after the star players left India? Do we still see the same picture? Why can’t we treat our players like the foreign star players and greet them with grandeur? If they are the future of Indian football then don’t they deserve same importance?

Hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup is definitely a big deal but I feel sorry to say that the scenario has lesser chance to alter if our people do not adopt the right attitude and if they immediately do not stop feeling pity for their nation’s football team. Taking an initiative is easier than maintaining it for a long period. I believe, every country had once started the journey with extreme positivity and the zeal to reach the peak and thus they are here today.

Even my article speaks a lot about the “not happenings” but I had to come up with these questions and I shall be living with a hope that someday someone will reply to my queries and quench my thirst.