Two Commandments for Indian State Football Associations

It is fashionable for many Indian football fans to blame all the ills of Indian football on AIFF (All India Football Federation). AIFF offers a convenient target to many fans who do not realize that the health of Indian football is dependent upon many entities not just AIFF. Moreover in recent times AIFF has been doing some good work, relatively speaking off-course. Many do not realize that the state football associations are a critical component for the development of Indian football. Rob Baan, AIFF’s technical director recently said that Indian football can progress when all entities such as AIFF, the clubs, the government and state football associations cooperate and work towards a common goal.

The performance (or non performance) state football associations in India varies greatly from state to state. In this article a couple of non-obvious “commandments” for the improvement of state football associations are discussed.

Thou shall establish a open online communication channel with all stakeholders

In this day and age a clear benchmark for a modern state association is the existence of a online presence. A modern state association uses the power of online media to maintain a bi-directional communication flow of information and ideas with players, stakeholders, fans and well wishers. Players are kept updated on schedules etc for upcoming sporting events, coaching seminars etc. An online presence also helps establish networks with well wishers across the globe, which many times result with significant support to the state association. It takes minimal effort to establish a facebook page, yet only a few of the Indian state associations have bothered to do so, many have so far chosen to remain distant, feudal, non-transparent and insecure hence depriving themselves of the benefits of this great resource. Examples of such state associations include those from the capital city of India i.e Delhi, Haryana and many more states.

However a few state associations have maintained an active online presence and deserve to be praised for this. Himachal State Football Association (HPFA) is a excellent example of how to use the power of online media to promote and achieve its goal of promoting the game. HPFA is led by its dynamic football secretary Deepak Sharma. It has a active facebook page in addition to a website. The facebook page is used to maintain a formal and informal communication channel about tournaments, coaching seminars , promotional events etc. Deepak has also used the online media to establish contacts with well wishers, who want to help the state federation with its activities. The passion for football in Deepak and his band of merry men often shows in their occasional light-hearted posts on the facebook page (Deepak once posted “Football is my girl friend, and my wife is OK with that !”) that help establish greater bonds in the football fraternity. Another good example of using the power of online media is the Maharashtra Football association (Called WIFA – Western Football Association) that also maintains an active online facebook page and website. WIFA is led by energetic CEO Henry Menezes.

Thou shall promote a culture of football Clubs

Football clubs are the bed-rock on which the whole football ecosystem is build in any true footballing culture. The club sinks its roots deep into the community and forms a mutual relationship of drawing its strength from and contributing back to the community. Clubs big and small at the city, town and village levels are the need of the hour. A club fosters enthusiasm and pride for the sport and the local teams. It provides training and employment opportunities and draws more and more people to the football ecosystem. Though public-sector organizational teams have provided support for the game, they can never have the potential to bring in the dynamism or fan enthusiasm to the football ecosystem or have the potential to reach for the highest levels in the game. Shillong Lajong was once a small club with big ambitions some years ago and today it is a big club with global ambitions. Just today it has beaten a A-league side, which is a first in the history of Indian football. Yet it shows no sign of stopping at its laurels. States such as as Punjab, have relied on organizations such as Punjab Police, BSF etc have basically stagnated far below their true potential. Only a few regions in India can boast of a true culture of clubs that exists as in North-East India. Nagaland Football association started a “private club only” (no public sector teams) football league last year and within a short time it has seen the birth of tens of clubs at village and town level competing with each other on the playing field and also for the affection of fans. A “private club only” league for all the seven North-East states is planned to start soon. Watch-out for many more high-caliber Shillong Lajong type of teams with deep community roots and big ambitions to emerge from north-east in coming years. State football associations need to promote leagues and tournaments to foster a culture of clubs at all levels (youth, children, village, town city etc) in order to vitalize the football ecosystem.