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.
ryan giggs
Roar Rookie
I'm going to address some of your points. Yes, economic growth alone isn't enough to cultivate a great quality of national football, but the point is that as the middle class grows, it will invariably want more options in terms of recreation and entertainment. You cite low attendance figures of the I-League, but considering the lack of club owned infrastructure, scheduling fixtures too early in the day, etc, I think a 5k average is actually quite ok. With reasonable timing of fixtures, a good marketing strategy, and club-owned infrastructure - I think the I-league can double that average very easily. BTW, MLS was only 15k at one point & the Brazilian Serie A averages around 13K. You mentioned the lack of Indian footballers in the UK, compared to Caribbean immigrants. These were two very different groups when they came to the UK, in terms of socioeconomic backgrounds etc. They simply did not possess the same aspirations. I could very well ask you why it is that Blacks are underrepresented in academia in the UK. Also, it's not like Blacks had an easy time entering English football. They had to face similar canards that hound Indians today, like Blacks not being able to play in the cold, and coaches not allowing them to play in the midfield as it's considered to be the 'brainier' part of the field, etc. You don't think Indians face a similar institutional barrier at present? Watch that documentary with Clarke Carlisle on racism in football, and pay attention to the part with the Indian kids. Also, Indian immigration to the UK was mostly in the 70s, their kids were going to be cricket fans. It's the 3rd generation that's going to assimilate, and you can see it now with some emerging Indian talents within the youth systems. Football isn't a 'niche sport' in India anymore. It was exploding in popularity in the early 2000s and is established enough now to sustain a healthy domestic footballing culture in the big cities. It's just that the AIFF is a bureaucratic, corrupt, useless organization, that hasn't done anything to make that happen. The clubs need their own stadiums and have to compete in the AFC competitions. They need to seriously study the Ajax and Barcelona model and come up with their own youth systems. Only then does India stand the slightest chance of ever qualifying for a WC, because right now the quality is just garbage. To address another point, player wages aren't low at all relative to the quality at which they play. Most of them make about $40k a year, which is decent if you consider their original backgrounds. Some make $100k++. Yes, you're right - there are infrastructural problems. But if it changes, domestic football will change.
Suave
Guest
I think in 4-5 years time India will definitely will become one of the best in Asia atleast ..nevermind pessimistic people commenting on this article ..signs are already there - ISL and u-17 football world cup
Diehard Football Fan
Guest
The actual problem in Indian football and other sports apart from cricket is inefficient bureaucracy,lack of investment and corruption in AIFF and Indian Olympic Committee.Dnt knw why so much attention is given to cricket and money wasting IPL.Serious reforms needed.Corruption forces many to give up their aspirations for a career in sports and focus more on academics and professional life.
Devakumar .A
Guest
Please help my poorbackground football team 30 boys and sopport us we need
Ritam
Guest
Reading this article in March would have made me wonder a lot about this. But now looking at India hosting the U 17 World Cup and having to make academies, bringing grounds to FIFA standards and now generally the young generation wanting to play in the world cup. This is the time India will evolve. China haven't done anything of note to really encourage football other than fail in keeping Drogba after it looked to be happening, in one of their league clubs. India has MASSIVE epl following in the young generation and I can say that too. I myself am an Indian and I support a League 2 club in England, Portsmouth. For 7 years it has been the same. And not have I changed one bit. The World Cup following is massive too. 2017 is when the youth will appear. With the amount of scouts coming to India. I am absolutely optimistic if not certain that this is going to help India progress. We might reach the level of a competitive nation, World Class is something for 2/3 decades to go for. Look at Belgium coming up with their Youth. Look how Japan has evolved. India has a future. And now with the Infrastructure it shall begin.
Ritam
Guest
Reading this article in March would have made me wonder a lot about this. But now looking at India hosting the U 17 World Cup and having to make academies, bringing grounds to FIFA standards and now generally the young generation wanting to play in the world cup. This is the time India will evolve. China haven't done anything of note to really encourage football other than fail in keeping Drogba after it looked to be happening, in one of their league clubs. India has MASSIVE epl following in the young generation and I can say that too. I myself am an Indian and I support a League 2 club in England, Portsmouth. For 7 years it has been the same. And not have I changed one bit. The World Cup following is massive too. 2017 is when the youth will appear. With the amount of scouts coming to India. I am absolutely optimistic if not certain that this is going to help India progress. We might reach the level of a competitive nation, World Class is something for 2/3 decades to go for. Look at Belgium coming up with their Youth. Look how Japan has evolved. India has a future. And now with the Infrastructure it shall begin.
Ric
Guest
Well The Problems are Carelessness,Prejudice,Corruption,Favouritism ,Racism.........When You are a Good Footballer in India You will Know the Difference...........Actually You cannot find a Single good coach in India that really knows about Football.......There are many football clubs for name sake.....They wont select you by your performance...because you make one mistake thats all your Waste ,If every country coach thought like that there will never be any players...In Football there can never be any Player with Perfection Everytime.....1 Billion People and there arent 11 Best Footballers is because of certainly favouritism or Prejudice from the beginning of the selection is self....Well there is Portugal, Austria as only 1% Denmark,Paraguay 0.5% of our population how do they play football at best because they have better selection process which infact means there are great footballers that are playing in Streets or Without Scouted out from there .........And We cannot blame on infrastructure and facilities...........We SHould blame on selectors.......There is no football scouting in India ..no football scouts anywhere or move around all over country to find talents.... Great Footballers like Ronaldinho and Maradona Came from poorest corners of streets Do u really know that I dont thing many people will know that they only overhyped by their names but not their history ...So How Did they Come from There to Become the Best.Its is really in the Culture and People Surrounded You........In India We are Surrounded by 95%of Hypocrites.... Even Teamates Second,,...The Referees dont follow rules and regulation correctly even in Local Club Matches......You Cannot Give a player away with a red card foul just because it is a Local Club Match or not too important......May be the Local Referees are also get selected because of influence and favouritism Third,,You Cannot Keep watching EPL if you are really a footballer then you will know it.... they dont play football its only drama and hype ...We Must start watching German,Spain and Dutch Leagues insted of this Overhyped POOR Quality Football that is shown around in India ...IF a Kid starts watches it he will really never know what is good quality football which will make him poor footballer even if he really had Good Potential............
bass
Guest
nice blog.. keep it alive.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
+1
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
completely agree.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
+1
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
well said.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
India needs to invest in Football pitches and stop focusing much on Cricket and esp Ipl.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
Boxing and Shooting and then comes weightlifting. Cricket is India's religion and Football is good only to look in the TV Screen. The AIFF management is corrupt, football grounds are pathetic and the investment is done only in Cricket.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
and the management is corrupted. India's second problem is that it looks to invest only in Cricket! BCCI is the king and was once in the top 5 richest sports board in the world.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
couldn't have been better. Absolutely right! The first problem in India about football is the nature of pitch! Its horrible and then there is a list of 100 problems.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
+1
Dhrubajyoti
Guest
Indian football must take help from japan,china,north-korea.All players must develope improved skill,play fast,and must try to covert every chance to goals..I am sure that every indian players work hard but I think they must improve their skills and speed and also control in ball..passes and shots must must be accute and faster..All players must forget every thing while they are on field..covert every chances ..thats it!!!
Tejas
Guest
I'm glad there is a Indian football talk. Being a football player from past ten years, I believe Indians are sleeping giants in football. rather than talking much about Indian football we gotta nurture the love of it in everyone especially in the kids. I have been trying take lot of initiatives by doing workshops in schools and academies,I have started researching, made curriculum, walked in the streets and parks watching them play football and I'm very disappointed with grade of it. Now I have taken a initiative for that spotlight for those young lads working with them and trying to establish the love and not just the glory. I have failed in my studies now taking up the football preference,I have an year back.
maktaduai
Guest
The only noteworthy football players in India hail from West Bengal, Goa, Kerala, and the Northeast (especially Manipur & Mizoram, etc.). In these states especially in Manipur & Mizoram football is the No. 1 sport and everyone is crazy about the game. And there are plenty of talented youngsters in these states but sadly, you won't make a living by playing football and many talented footballers thus got wasted away... Football is definitely growing in India but the truly football crazy States seems to get neglected. If anyone wants to truly setup and develop football in India (international clubs or otherwise) they should visit the aforementioned States and see for themselves the level and quality of football that is being played there by local amateur clubs in their mud infested football fields! They might be pleasantly surprised. But that seems to be highly unlikely.