The latest from Football News India
- 'Need to break away from tradition
- I-League Final Standings: Who Finished Where? - Goal.com
- Chirag United signs Justin Stephen
- 'Indian football needs a Lalit Modi' - ESPN STAR Sports
- London calling - The Hindu
| 'Need to break away from tradition | Top |
| "Nostalgia is your biggest enemy!" This was what India hockey coach Jose Brasa had to say when asked about the reason for the sport's decline in the country. The Spaniard was only referring to hockey, a sport in which India can boast of eight Olympic gold medals and a world title, but the statement could apply to Indian football as well. Alberto Colaco, the general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), admitted at the India Football Forum 2010 in New Delhi on Thursday that a lot of work needed to be done to improve the state of affairs of Indian football. But he admitted that tradition and age-old practices come in the way of change and new policies. "There are lots of changes that Indian football needs, to go to the next level. Most of the changes need to be implemented at the club level. But unfortunately, most of the clubs are over a hundred years old. They are bound by tradition," he said. "Either they are scared of change or they refuse to break away from tradition. Why would they listen to FIFA when these clubs are older than FIFA?" he added. Marcus Luer, the CEO of Total Sports Asia, also believes that Indian football needs to let go of the past if it is to move forward. "Any tradition that comes in the way of progress is a hindrance," he stated. "Tradition is good. Wimbledon has its charm for a reason. But tradition should not grab importance at the expense of growth." Kolkata has been synonymous with Indian football for very long, but Luer fears this may not be the case for too long. "Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have such a huge following because of their rich history. But their standards have fallen in the last few years. They need to change and adapt, and implement new ideas," said the German. "Bayern (Munich) have a long history, so do Manchester United. All big European clubs have a legacy, but they are still successful only because they did not get caught up in tradition. They are not what they were twenty or fifty years ago," he continued. For the 2010-11 I-League season, the AIFF is planning to include a Delhi-based team comprising only of India Under-19 players, in a bid to prepare them for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The idea has come under fire from all quarters, but the AIFF is adamant on implementing it. The proposal has it shortcomings, but it also has its advantages. But more than anything, it is different from everything we've seen so far. It goes to prove that Indian football is not afraid of change, of breaking tradition. Perhaps all hope is not lost after all. | |
| I-League Final Standings: Who Finished Where? - Goal.com | Top |
| Chirag United signs Justin Stephen | Top |
| 'Indian football needs a Lalit Modi' - ESPN STAR Sports | Top |
| London calling - The Hindu | Top |
| The Hindu London calling The Hindu The demure, frail-looking Tintu who hails from Irutty, a quiet village in Kannur district, is the eldest of three girls. Her father, a mason and mother, ... | |
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