Why can’t India, with its population of over 1,000,000,000 people find 11 football players able to conquer the world? (By Kartik Das)
[This is an article which came on ESPNStar. It is so damn good and true, that I was obliged to put it up here.]
Slovenia, a tiny country in a mountainous region with a population of just 2 million are ranked 25th in the FIFA World Rankings and were present at the 2010 World Cup. Trinidad and Tobago with a population of 1.2 million are ranked in the top 100 and participated in the 2006 World Cup. Good grief, even North Korea made it to the 2010 world event.
The sheer fact that nations with paltry populations and footballing cultures can scale global heights does not reflect well on India and the way the masses perceive football within their own country - a country that at one stage was proud to have a prominent football team.
Once upon a time, India, all bare feet and with nimble moves, made it to the 1950 World Cup in Brazil (their single ever qualification to the World Cup) only to withdraw due to a "lack of foreign exchange, the prospects of a long sea journey and an insistence on playing barefoot". They went on to win gold at the Asian Games in 1951 and 1962 and, in 1956, were the first Asian country to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics. From then on the team's performance has well and truly gone downhill. India have not qualified for the Olympics since 1960.
The immense popularity of cricket in India is surely not the answer for the lack of interest and success of Indian football. The love for football in India is plenty: this year's World Cup fever hit railway stations, restaurants and bars.
Spanish and Brazil flags were everywhere and restaurants were going mad with World Cup offers trying to keep customers' plates full and wallets empty. Numerous people support football clubs from Europe, staying awake past midnight to catch a Champions League game. Thus, the assumption that the all-pervading love for India's ‘religion', cricket, is hindering the development of its football side, is just a scapegoat.
The blame can't lie on our English colonizers (the inventors of football) either, that they didn't introduce the sport. They may have ruled India for decades (first through the East India Company and then the British Crown) but Indians learnt the sport through them: originally, army teams played football. After all the Indians picked up a sport from them far more complex than football: cricket, which has a torrent of rules compared to a game that - in its simplest terms - just needs a ball to be kicked into the net.
So why does India, a third of whose population is under fourteen - "a nursery of potential footballers", continue to fail to make the finals?
Firstly, qualification for the world cup - with only 4 slots (5 including the playoff with the OFC Nations Cup winner) out of the 32 and with the presence of Japan, South Korea and Australia - isn't easy for any Asian team.
Maybe, but surely the major reason for failure lies within the Indian system.
There are football leagues in at least eight states, but the level and quality of the clubs are appalling. In India, like almost everything else, football is run by politicians. The aviation minister is also the chief of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Because of this politicization, along with corruption, lack of interest and professionalism, the game doesn't thrive.
This lack of interest is evident in the long time it took the governing body of football in India to become associated with FIFA. The footballers continued to play barefoot while the rest of the world put on some shoes.
Politics is a very important reason for the demise of football in the country. Sports ministry officials look for quick promotions and quick returns on investment, so they invest more money in sports like cricket instead of football at the local level. This also means that Indian football has a weak youth system, something which is very important in the development of any team.
Climax Lawrence, one of the Indian national stars, stated that even though his club, Dempo FC, won the I-League (the top tier league in India) they have yet to receive the trophy!
Another reason lies in the Indian culture. Firstly, India doesn't have a sporting culture and secondly the best Indian athletes would rather play cricket or hockey and not football because these two sports attract larger audiences in the country. More importantly, for the athletes, football doesn't attract the dollars.
This is where we, as fans, come in. Yes, we do love football, but not Indian football. Cricket is a very popular sport, but only because we placed it there. The same can be done for football as well.
Remember, "It's the fans that make a sport what it is."
Fans have a huge influence on sport and this is exemplified by Real Madrid's claim that they have recovered the 80 million pounds paid for Cristiano Ronaldo. How? By selling millions of merchandise with his name on it!
We cannot let our football hope down and all it takes is to show the same enthusiasm we have for European football, for Indian football. Instead of supporting Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea start supporting our own clubs: Dempo, Mohun Bagan and Mumbai FC. Yes, their level of football may be inferior but what more of a reason do we need to support our local clubs than for the fact that they are Indian.
Baichung Bhutia has played in the third tier of English football for three years , Sunil Chhetri has now signed up to play for the Kansas City Wizards, a Major League Soccer club, and Gouramangi Singh was on trial at Melbourne Heart FC. Although these three players have brought some appeal and fascination back into the game in India, what can a few footballers do?
Nevertheless, India's dream lives on and there are things happening out there that might lead to a spot at the 2018 World Cup for the Indian national team. The AIFF has taken two major steps: the advancement of the National Team Development Programme and the effort to make the I-League and clubs very professional. Professional and competitive national leagues and clubs are the very foundation of a solid national side. Keep in mind - the results of the Japanese team before the implementation of J-league weren't amazing at the international level.
Furthermore, Dempo FC have snapped up an exceptional deal with FIFA to sell official merchandise (including I-League jerseys and collectibles) throughout the country and the team is believed to have a tie up with an English club.
The team coach, Bob Houghton, has also developed the team immensely and has led us to the 2011 Asia Cup finals - simply sensational. With such coaches, a team can never say never to any goal.
Even Bollywood is playing its part. Superstar Salman Khan has agreed to continue as the brand ambassador for the AIFF, and heartthrob, Ranbir Kapoor, has signed up to appear in advertisements promoting Indian football. Moreover, the newly married Shilpa Shetty and her loaded hubby have audaciously begun their quest for a new football league in India - a possible football variation of the Indian Premier League (IPL)?
These developments along with the right facilities, international training and exposure, as well as our support, could come together to turn the national team into a competitive outfit.
Hope springs eternal.
[Article actual location : http://www.espnstar.com/football/other-football/news/detail/item467327/Edit/]
Friday, July 16, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Loan Zone (By VELA)
(The following article is just the views of the writer and not necessarily of the Blog owner or anyine else.)
Well, in the season 2009-2010....Chelsea have had some promising young players on loan. The dilemma now is, whether they should get back to Chelsea or continue their loan spells.
The players currently out on loan are;
(1)Slobodan Rajković (on loan at Twente)
(2)Franco Di Santo (on loan at Blackburn Rovers)
(3)Scott Sinclair (on loan at Wigan Athletic)
(4)Michael Mancienne (on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers)
(5)Miroslav Stoch (on loan at Twente)
(6)Ben Gordon (on loan at Tranmere Rovers)
(7)Ryan Bertrand (on loan at Reading)
(8)Jack Cork (on loan at Burnley)
Players like Slobodan Rajković, Franco Di Santo, Scott Sinclair and Ben Gordon should be sent on loan in the Championship. This thought doesn't come from me thinking that they can't cut the grade in EPL...but I think so beacuse in Championship, the teams tend to have players of lesser quality. Which makes it easier for the guys on loan to start more matches, which will help build their confidence and grow their game.
Slobodan Rajković has played 21 games for Twente and also scored a goal (at the time of writing this) which isn't a bad thing. He is 6ft 3in tall, and very good in the air. Such qualities are always welcomed in a defender and if he goes out on loan in England...we'll know where he actually stands.
Franco Di Santo has played 21 times for Blackburn and scored a solitary goal. Same as Slobodan Rajković, he needs more game time and also start every match. He'll only get better from here.
Scott Sinclair and Ben Gordon are also bright prospects. Ben Gordon might get back to the club, but Scott Sinclair is a very good prospect for wing play and he really can make it big if he gets to play more. He's played 17 times for Wigan and score one goal.
Miroslav Stoch. The hot prospect in Holland. The jewel in the crown of Twente, is a Chelsea player on a season long loan there. A player who can play on both the wings, he's been a revelation since he shifted his base on a temporary basis to Holland. He's score 9 goals in 31 appearances for Twente. He prefers playing on the left, and based upon Malouda's stunning form....he will become second choice if he returns to Chelsea. If his patience levels are high and he doesn't expect to play every game, Malouda can be his perfect teacher. But if he prefers for more play time, I think it's time he tried his hand in EPL. A loan deal for a few months to a club like Wolves or Stoke or Newcastle or West Brom (teams which use wing play) will do him good.
Jack Cork. A young midfield master. He should probably stay back at Chelsea next season and learn off from the aging Lampard. None better to teach him than Lampsy. Given Carlo's ability to mould young players (like Kaka and Pato at Milan) he might develop more, now that he had a spell at an EPL club, Burley. And he's impressed whenever he took the field. A hard tackler, he'll be a kid to watch.
Ryan Bertrand. A good Left Back. Our club's filled with good LBs now, strangely. We got Ashley, Yuri and Patrick Van Aanholt. And this fella Ryan....currently on loan at Reading. A large chunk of reading avaoding relegation and almost in contention for the play offs goes to the Reading defence, where Ryan is stationed on the left. Great defensively and improving vastly with attacking play, he is one to look out for the future. Another season on loan will do the kid a lot of favour, as he himself said in an interview. True. In a team like our's where Yuri, an international, plays second fiddle to Ashley it's difficult for him to get chances on a regular basis.
Mancienne. Well, he can be called a younger version of Juliano Belleti, who himself is set to leave the club in the summer on a free transfer. England U-21 international. 6 ft 1/2 in. Versatile. He can play as a Center Back, Right Back and also as a CDM. In his recent loan spell at Wolves, he shifted from CB and played at CDM for majority of the campaign. he has been a good shield for the back for of wolves and his manager Mick admitted his liking for the versatility of Mancienne. With Essien having the ability to play anywhere in the midfield and Mikel improving as a CDM coupled with Belleti's departure, Mancienne might just as well be a second choice CDM. Just a thought. He ought to get back to Chelsea after an year's experience in the top flight.
(Comments from you readers will be gladly welcomed.)
Well, in the season 2009-2010....Chelsea have had some promising young players on loan. The dilemma now is, whether they should get back to Chelsea or continue their loan spells.
The players currently out on loan are;
(1)Slobodan Rajković (on loan at Twente)
(2)Franco Di Santo (on loan at Blackburn Rovers)
(3)Scott Sinclair (on loan at Wigan Athletic)
(4)Michael Mancienne (on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers)
(5)Miroslav Stoch (on loan at Twente)
(6)Ben Gordon (on loan at Tranmere Rovers)
(7)Ryan Bertrand (on loan at Reading)
(8)Jack Cork (on loan at Burnley)
Players like Slobodan Rajković, Franco Di Santo, Scott Sinclair and Ben Gordon should be sent on loan in the Championship. This thought doesn't come from me thinking that they can't cut the grade in EPL...but I think so beacuse in Championship, the teams tend to have players of lesser quality. Which makes it easier for the guys on loan to start more matches, which will help build their confidence and grow their game.
Slobodan Rajković has played 21 games for Twente and also scored a goal (at the time of writing this) which isn't a bad thing. He is 6ft 3in tall, and very good in the air. Such qualities are always welcomed in a defender and if he goes out on loan in England...we'll know where he actually stands.
Franco Di Santo has played 21 times for Blackburn and scored a solitary goal. Same as Slobodan Rajković, he needs more game time and also start every match. He'll only get better from here.
Scott Sinclair and Ben Gordon are also bright prospects. Ben Gordon might get back to the club, but Scott Sinclair is a very good prospect for wing play and he really can make it big if he gets to play more. He's played 17 times for Wigan and score one goal.
Miroslav Stoch. The hot prospect in Holland. The jewel in the crown of Twente, is a Chelsea player on a season long loan there. A player who can play on both the wings, he's been a revelation since he shifted his base on a temporary basis to Holland. He's score 9 goals in 31 appearances for Twente. He prefers playing on the left, and based upon Malouda's stunning form....he will become second choice if he returns to Chelsea. If his patience levels are high and he doesn't expect to play every game, Malouda can be his perfect teacher. But if he prefers for more play time, I think it's time he tried his hand in EPL. A loan deal for a few months to a club like Wolves or Stoke or Newcastle or West Brom (teams which use wing play) will do him good.
Jack Cork. A young midfield master. He should probably stay back at Chelsea next season and learn off from the aging Lampard. None better to teach him than Lampsy. Given Carlo's ability to mould young players (like Kaka and Pato at Milan) he might develop more, now that he had a spell at an EPL club, Burley. And he's impressed whenever he took the field. A hard tackler, he'll be a kid to watch.
Ryan Bertrand. A good Left Back. Our club's filled with good LBs now, strangely. We got Ashley, Yuri and Patrick Van Aanholt. And this fella Ryan....currently on loan at Reading. A large chunk of reading avaoding relegation and almost in contention for the play offs goes to the Reading defence, where Ryan is stationed on the left. Great defensively and improving vastly with attacking play, he is one to look out for the future. Another season on loan will do the kid a lot of favour, as he himself said in an interview. True. In a team like our's where Yuri, an international, plays second fiddle to Ashley it's difficult for him to get chances on a regular basis.
Mancienne. Well, he can be called a younger version of Juliano Belleti, who himself is set to leave the club in the summer on a free transfer. England U-21 international. 6 ft 1/2 in. Versatile. He can play as a Center Back, Right Back and also as a CDM. In his recent loan spell at Wolves, he shifted from CB and played at CDM for majority of the campaign. he has been a good shield for the back for of wolves and his manager Mick admitted his liking for the versatility of Mancienne. With Essien having the ability to play anywhere in the midfield and Mikel improving as a CDM coupled with Belleti's departure, Mancienne might just as well be a second choice CDM. Just a thought. He ought to get back to Chelsea after an year's experience in the top flight.
(Comments from you readers will be gladly welcomed.)
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Twist of ankle, twist of fate (By VELA)
JUST one twist of the ankle can turn Manchester United's season upside down. If only Sir Alex Ferguson can wield as much power with a wave of his hand. If Wayne Rooney's crocked, then Man United's trophy hopes are rocked. Hard.
Can anyone really see the Red Devils marching on to the English Premiership or Champions League title without their most influential player of the season?
Can Man United keep up their goal-scoring rate without their most prolific goal-getter?
The laborious team performance against Bayern Munich is a timely warning. The Bayern coach said before the first leg quarter-final, that Man Utd depend majorly on Rooney. Their second highest goal scorer was one 'Mr.Own-Goal'...well atleast before Berbaflop scored two against Bolton.
It is not how good you can play, but how well you raise your game when the chips are down that can determine success or failure. It also highlights the importance of Rooney to Man United, after an awkward landing saw him limp off the field. Not only are the Man United fans sweating over his fitness, the whole of England are also praying hard for their talisman to recover in time for the World Cup in South Africa.
The race against time is on.
Without Rooney in attack, the Red Devils look all at sea.
Michael Owen (hamstring) and Danny Welbeck (knee) have been ruled out for the season.
Youngsters Mame Biram Diouf and Federico Macheda could crumble under the intense pressure.
That leaves Dimitar Berbatov, who is hardly a ready-made replacement. Red Devils faithful are justifying saying Berbatov scored thrice as many goals this season as he did last season. Really? 30 million for a efcombined goall tally of almost 20 goals in two seasons? If it was some 30 million striker Chelsea had bought, people and the press would have come calling on our backs saying Roman is throwing cash and that we are just a rich club without a desire to play football.
Heck! Malouda has scored 11 and Lampard has scored a phenomenal 17.
Compare both club's second choice strikers. (Anelka is not exactly second choice, but for the debate...let him be one.)
Anelka has scored 9 and Berbatov 12. Assists wise, Anelka has 9 to his name and Berba has 6. Anelka has more than expertly held his cool during the absence of Drogba. Look at the time during African Cup of Nations. Or more recently, the 7-1 demolition of Aston Villa.
Man United haven't looked so lost since the immediate aftermath of Cristiano's Ronaldo's departure.
Gosh, even Tevez is banging in goals for fun. One must imagine SAF's thoughts, and regrets, over not keeping hold of him.
Saha, who was let off by SAF because he was 'past his playing days', now has 13 goals to his name.
If that doesn't make Man United a one-man team, what does?
Can anyone really see the Red Devils marching on to the English Premiership or Champions League title without their most influential player of the season?
Can Man United keep up their goal-scoring rate without their most prolific goal-getter?
The laborious team performance against Bayern Munich is a timely warning. The Bayern coach said before the first leg quarter-final, that Man Utd depend majorly on Rooney. Their second highest goal scorer was one 'Mr.Own-Goal'...well atleast before Berbaflop scored two against Bolton.
It is not how good you can play, but how well you raise your game when the chips are down that can determine success or failure. It also highlights the importance of Rooney to Man United, after an awkward landing saw him limp off the field. Not only are the Man United fans sweating over his fitness, the whole of England are also praying hard for their talisman to recover in time for the World Cup in South Africa.
The race against time is on.
Without Rooney in attack, the Red Devils look all at sea.
Michael Owen (hamstring) and Danny Welbeck (knee) have been ruled out for the season.
Youngsters Mame Biram Diouf and Federico Macheda could crumble under the intense pressure.
That leaves Dimitar Berbatov, who is hardly a ready-made replacement. Red Devils faithful are justifying saying Berbatov scored thrice as many goals this season as he did last season. Really? 30 million for a efcombined goall tally of almost 20 goals in two seasons? If it was some 30 million striker Chelsea had bought, people and the press would have come calling on our backs saying Roman is throwing cash and that we are just a rich club without a desire to play football.
Heck! Malouda has scored 11 and Lampard has scored a phenomenal 17.
Compare both club's second choice strikers. (Anelka is not exactly second choice, but for the debate...let him be one.)
Anelka has scored 9 and Berbatov 12. Assists wise, Anelka has 9 to his name and Berba has 6. Anelka has more than expertly held his cool during the absence of Drogba. Look at the time during African Cup of Nations. Or more recently, the 7-1 demolition of Aston Villa.
Man United haven't looked so lost since the immediate aftermath of Cristiano's Ronaldo's departure.
Gosh, even Tevez is banging in goals for fun. One must imagine SAF's thoughts, and regrets, over not keeping hold of him.
Saha, who was let off by SAF because he was 'past his playing days', now has 13 goals to his name.
If that doesn't make Man United a one-man team, what does?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
CHELSEA FC - London's Pride (By VELA)
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.
Here at the Bridge, whether rain or fine
We can shine all the time
Home or away, come and see us play
You're welcome any day
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name
Come to the Shed and we'll welcome you
Wear your blue and see us through
Sing loud and clear until the game is done
Sing Chelsea everyone
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.
And this is my opinion, apart from that amazing song.
Oh! I so wish I am dead,
Rather than ever be a Red.
Claiming as the best, Manchester,
All they do is cry out aloud and blabber.
My heart is Blue,
Forever that shall remain true.
It is simply true splendor,
A pledge I shall always render.
For we don't need to name ourselves with 'United' ,
'Cos unlike those who do, we never go down divided.
Blue is the colour,
Football is thy name.
[Post by Vela]
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.
Here at the Bridge, whether rain or fine
We can shine all the time
Home or away, come and see us play
You're welcome any day
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name
Come to the Shed and we'll welcome you
Wear your blue and see us through
Sing loud and clear until the game is done
Sing Chelsea everyone
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.
Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.
And this is my opinion, apart from that amazing song.
Oh! I so wish I am dead,
Rather than ever be a Red.
Claiming as the best, Manchester,
All they do is cry out aloud and blabber.
My heart is Blue,
Forever that shall remain true.
It is simply true splendor,
A pledge I shall always render.
For we don't need to name ourselves with 'United' ,
'Cos unlike those who do, we never go down divided.
Blue is the colour,
Football is thy name.
[Post by Vela]
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
HELLO GUYS
hello guys let us start posting in our new blog . The blog for all Chelsea FC supporters . I welcome you all to our own Blog :)
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