Producing a new pool of Footballers

File Photo: Team India in training

From my school days (early 90′s), I’ve grown up listening to a line, “If groomed properly, every Indian village can produce one PELE.”

We recently saw India going down against the so-called second string Palestine National team. The first half of the match was no doubt an action packed one, but the second half witnessed the home team surrendering to their opponents in front of their home crowd. It was really a sad scene, specially for the Indian football fans who had waited eagerly for the match day.

Anyway, we must always find out the reasons behind a failure and always take the positives from there. It’s good to hear that Mr. Raymond Verheijen will be here in India to teach the Indian coaches. Slowly and steadily at least the coaching criteria is improving in our country and now almost all the cubs have become professional, fulfilling the minimum AFC criterion (ONGC and AIR INDIA being the exceptions).

It was clear from the Palestine match that the Indian players still lack the killer instinct a footballer must have, their stamina and fitness was zero and can be termed as ‘Pathetic’. Wim Koevermans was quoted as saying, “Sunil Chhetri is training at a higher level” and even if he lacks enough match practice then that should not be a reason to worry about. Now, from the statement given by the coach himself, it is clear that he is well aware about the difference in the level of training which is practised here in India and outside India. Why doesn’t the coach start the same level (intensity) of training with the Indian Footballers? This question must be answered at the earliest.

Pailan Arrows, under the Australian Coach Mr. Papas, are doing great. There was an inter-school tournament held in Odisha, there are so many teams now who would be playing the I-League 2nd Division. These are great news for Indian Football. We also know that our country has an U16, U19 and U23 teams. Apart from all these, the AIFF must keep a watch on the teams participating in the Santosh Trophy and when the tournament is over, a set of 25-30 players (under the age of 21) or even more must be selected and be trained by the professional coaches. Also, these players must be based at a particular place and all their other basic needs must be taken care of apart from football coaching. The method of ‘Keep the best and eliminate the others’ can also be practised to increase the level of competition among the players. This way of keeping the players would help in providing talented players for the National Team and will also help the country rise in the field of football in many ways.

Lastly, if we really want India to rise in Football, then, this is one way in which we can create a ‘NEW POOL’ of talented Footballers.