- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
In the minds of most Westerners, India is usually associated with naan bread, cricket, scorching hot summers and the restaurant down the road.
Very rarely does football come to mind.
However, in a few decades, India could very well be up there with the best in Asia.
Like the shock of sinking one’s teeth into a particularly spicy vindaloo curry, this change will come as a surprise to most.
India is the sleeping giant of world football.
The Indian populace was introduced to cricket during the 19th century thanks to British colonialists. It was only natural that the British passed on another of their much loved sports – football.
The game began in modest circumstances with teams comprised of British troops playing against local Indian teams in various cups. Nowadays, during the derbies between East Bengal and Mohuan Bagan, the Salt Lake Stadium, with a capacity of 120 000, is consistently filled to the brim.
The atmosphere at these games has become so fierce and the fans so impassioned that on the 29 December 2012, following a goal and red card in quick succession, Mohun Bagan fans began to pepper the field with makeshift missiles, including blocks of concrete.
This resulted in Mohun Bagan being banned from playing in the I-League for two years.
Thankfully for the horde of vociferous Mohun Bagan fans whose voices each match reverberate around the Salt Lake Stadium in a cacophony of noise, the ban has since been lifted.
Not only, however, has football been growing in popularity and influence, the whole football system in India has been reconstructed in recent years. The national football league, established in 1996, was the first semi-professional league in India. The introduction of the I-League in 2007 has revolutionised Indian football.
Talented foreigners, such as Carlos Hernández, a previous A-League player of the year, have plied their trade in India. Sunil Chhetri, playing for Dempo in the I-League at the time, was signed by Kansas City of the MLS.
How much things have changed from the days when the national team always played barefoot.
Considering the poor socio-economic circumstances in India, it is unsurprising that football provides an escape for so many from the toil and hardship of everyday life.
At the same time, India is an emerging economy. While annual economic growth has slowed down somewhat over the last year, in the post-GFC world it peaked during 2010 at 9.4%, which is considered by tea-sipping bespectacled university-educated economists to be astounding.
With an exploding population and a wide supporter base, poor infrastructure has been the major feature holding Indian football back. However, this has already started to change. With a booming economy, the future for football in the sub-continent looks as bright and tantalising as a mango lassi.
Playing in the AFC Cup for Indian clubs has necessitated an improvement in infrastructure and facilities to meet AFC approved conditions.
In 2006, Brazil saw the potential in India when they agreed to a scheme involving the training of Indian coaches and players. If India can use the interest of global missionaries for good, then I cannot see what is preventing the country from becoming a superpower in Asian football, if not world football.
Why stop at India? You only have to look as far as China to see a nation already, albeit timidly, slipping on the football boots that have so longer evaded its grasp. What does the changing shape of world football come down to? Money.
As another emerging economy, China can now afford those long sought after boots. Chinese investment and foreign investment in Chinese football has brought the Chinese Super League along in leaps and bounds.
World-class players like Didier Drogba, Lucas Barrios and Seydou Keita have tried their luck in China. In time, this will no doubt lift the standard of local players who have to compete with high-profile foreigners for positions in the starting XI.
There are countless examples around the globe. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Top League was considered one of the best in Europe.
Amid political turmoil football was naturally low on the government’s agenda. But in recent years, along with extremely high rates of economic growth, Russian football has retaken the limelight. This has been reflected in the performances of the national team.
Of the three main areas which help to develop football – investment, infrastructure and an historical passion and support for the game – India is lacking only infrastructure. Seeming as this is intrinsically linked to money and investment; it is only a matter of time before India emerges from its slumber.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.