Revolutionise Indian football, plead Bob, Bhutia

MUMBAI, MARCH 26
 “Indian football has not changed with the time in terms of infrastructure as compared to the other Asian countries too. The biggest problem in Indian football is that we don’t have the knowledge to implement ideas,” stated  National coach Bob Hougthon.
“The system what we have is that things don’t happen. For example, the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) came up with a standard contract which all the I-League clubs could use. We have been requesting the All India Football Federation but it has been fruitless so far,” said Bhaichung Bhutia.
Houghton branded India as ‘unique’ in football terms which has a great history with the world’s third oldest tournament, after the English and Scottish FA Cup being held in India in the form of Durand Cup, where the tradition is  holding it back from progressing. The state associations and other organizations are content in having their own tournaments which hold back the smooth functioning of the I-League and the Indian National team and more importantly, stops the AIFF from coming up with a concrete football calendar.
“Those days are long gone. But to try and change the mentality is tough. To have both the State leagues, the IFA Shields, the Durand Cups and the I-League together is incompatible.”
“Without sounding arrogant, I’m well equipped to give suggestions as we need to change the domestic structure,” said Houghton.
The Englishman raised a point which only gave an indication of the power struggle in Indian football between the Indian FA and the State associations.
“The State associations in India existed before the AIFF came into place. Now the Indian Football Association (IFA) is not the Indian Football Federation but it’s the State association of West Bengal! You can’t have so many disparate bodies in one major league.”
“I’m sure this would make the headlines but I do believe that people in Kolkata would be happy to see Bengal win the Santosh Trophy than India win the World Cup!” he added cheekily.
Houghton believes that the way forward is to have more players like the Sikkimese sniper, who can generate interest in the sport.
“In Sweden until 1975, there was no tennis. It was only after Bjorn Borg that tennis dominated Sweden for the next 20 years. The solution is to have a few more Bhaichungs. I’m sure M.S.Dhoni and Company were inspired by Kapil Dev and others,” said the 61- year-old.
Bhaichung also touched upon the subject over the clubs being run unprofessionally and how they are unhappy to release the players for the National camp.
“I interact with club officials regularly and have spoken to most of them in the last 17-18 years and they are unhappy to release us for the National camp,” said Bhaichung to which Bob explained that since India doesn’t follow the FIFA calendar, for the National camps often the League has to stop which irritates the clubs in the process.
Houghton called for the age-old tournaments to be done away with and that the I-League clubs be forced to follow the AFC Club Licensing criteria.
“So far, we have not insisted the clubs to follow the criteria. If we don’t do that, then we will not get there.”
The icon for Indian football mentioned that it’s the duty of the AIFF to ensure that the clubs are in line which must be initialized with someone with ‘brains.’
“It’s the duty of the AIFF to guide the clubs. The change has to come from the top saying we want this and this. Some clubs don’t even have proper toilets and bathrooms. The AIFF must pressurize them,” said the 33-year-old.
While Houghton believes that India must bid for the 2022 World Cup and thereby invest the funds generated back into Indian football, Bhaichung stated that it’s a little too premature to think about it.
“Not for another ten years, at least till India is in the top ten in Asia. The money which we will use to spend on the World Cup can be invested in Indian football,” opined the East Bengal star.
Bhaichung came up with a novel idea of changing the structure of the I-League by getting the State associations to come up with a team from their State, who can play in the top division thus ensuring a better visibility and connect with the fans as well.
“I believe that the State associations must have their own teams for the I-League as it will be easier for them to get the infrastructure. Like in Malaysia, they have the State teams playing in the main League,” elaborated the Indian captain.
On a concluding note, Bhaichung came up with an apt analogy which explained the plethora of Indian football as a whole.
“It’s a like a kid going to school with no classrooms and no good teachers. No matter how intense the desire of the kid is to do well in his studies, he won’t be able to do anything.” (Goal.Com).