Now, IPL bowls over football!

Calcutta: The difference between cricket and soccer may be as wide as the Grand Canyon, but the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to bridge the gap! Though not directly, Indian soccer is ready to take inspiration from IPL’s popularity and prosperity to revamp the status of the game in this part of the world.

The Celebrity Management Group (CMG), who gave the city one of its proudest moments when they hosted Diego Maradona in 2008, has joined hands with the Indian Football Association (IFA) to launch the Premier League Soccer (PLS) — an IPL-style franchise driven football tournament.

Though the idea is not unique, the initiative surely packs a promising potential. In a bid to plaster the worn-out reputation of Indian soccer and infuse professionalism, the Bengal-based PLS has been planned to add the much-needed zing to the game. And if one is to believe the organisers, players of international repute and high-class coaches will be fine-tuning the X-factor.

For the league, initially, six franchises will be chosen through competitive bidding for a period of 10 years. The six franchise towns selected are Calcutta, Howrah, Barasat, Asansol, Midnapore and Siliguri. The duration of the tournament, which is approved by the All India Football Federation, will be around seven weeks and the maiden edition will be held in January-March 2012.

With names such as former Dutch World Cupper Edgar Davids and Japanese icon Junichi Inamoto doing the rounds, football’s own IPL will certainly not be short on star power. Among the coaches, Philippe Troussier, who has managed Japan, Nigeria and South Africa at the international stage, is ready to add his expertise to the project.

Each team will have one icon player and three other overseas players. The icon player, according to the organisers, will preferably be a World Cupper or should have represented his country successfully. For the Indian players, the PLS will, however, look beyond the I-League with a view to promote new talent.

An overseas coach with a Fifa/Uefa ‘A’ License will look after each team.

For the franchisee license, bids will be invited from corporate houses with a minimum net worth of Rs 10 crore. According to Bhaswar Goswami, executive director of the organising group, they already have eight interested parties willing to buy a franchisee.

“At the moment there are eight business houses interested in the project… It will only increase with time as it’s quite a lucrative business proposal. Entrepreneurs beyond Bengal are also interested,” he said.

Much like the IPL, it will be mandatory for the teams to include a player from its catchment area. Also, the matches will be played on a home and away basis. All the matches (four days a week) will be played under floodlights and will also beamed live by a regional television channel.

Asked whether proper infrastructure was in place in the districts, Goswami said: “We will look after that… From temporary floodlights to proper dressing rooms, everything will be taken care of.”

On the sidelines of the Rs 25 crore project, development of youth football and a referees’ academy are also on the cards. And with a revenue sharing plan in place, the organisers assure the franchisee owners of profit.

Franchisee bids will take place tentatively in July, but before that the organisers want to finalise the foreign player pool to attract prospective buyers.

Sixes are a must for IPL. But let’s hope that the PLS plans are not hit for a six!

Comment: Top Five Achievements Of Bob Houghton As India Coach The Bob Houghton era in Indian football has come to an end. Looking back at his time as India coach, Goal.com's Amoy Ghoshal lists the English coach's top five achievements...

The Bob Houghton era in Indian football is over as the Englishman's five year tenure as India coach came to anunfortunate end on Saturday. There were both highs and lows during the Englishman's reign as India's head coach.

Goal.com's Amoy Ghoshal lists the top five achievements of Bob Houghton during his fiver year spell.

A Players’ Coach

For any coach at any level it is important to have the full backing and trust of the players. In his five year tenure, Bob Houghton managed to do that with immense success. One of the big reasons for that was the fact that he kept faith in his players in good and bad times.  Subrata Paul is a primary example as the custodian from Sodepur had a difficult time at club level with East Bengal in the 2008-09 season but Houghton still kept insisting that Paul is the best goalkeeper in the country. The current Pune FC keeper repaid that faith by producing a match winning display in the 2009 Nehru Cup final and also went to win the AIFF Player of the Year award that same year. There are several other players who were not necessarily doing well for their clubs but Houghton still showed confidence in them and eventually those individuals did live up to the British coach’s expectations. 

Also despite heavy defeats in the international friendlies leading up to the Asian Cup, Bob Houghton maintained his trust on the same group of players and that brought out fighting displays from the Team India in Qatar 2011. Normally we see stars being produced by clubs but under Houghton the likes of Subrata Paul, Sunil Chhetri and Gouramangi Moirangthem developed into indispensable figures. And let’s not also forget that it was Houghton who convinced Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia to not retire. The players also supported Houghton during difficult times. Like they defended the Englishman and pointed the finger at former team manager Pradip Chowdhury for causing unrest by his sudden resignation. Even when Houghton parted ways, several national team players expressed disappointment and thanked the 63 year for his contribution to Indian football.

Twin Nehru Cup Success

The two Nehru Cups that took place during the Bob Houghton era didn’t have the same level of competition like it used to in the past but winning both times certainly helped to build a winning mentality and also brought unknown players into prominence.  The first of those took place in 2007 with five teams taking part. Cambodia, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan and Syria were the other participating nations. Syria was the only team ranked higher above India so Bob Houghton’s side was expected to at least reach the final.  India started off with a 6-0 hammering of Cambodia and followed it up with a labouring 1-0 victory over Bangladesh. India lost to tournament favourites Syria 3-2 in the next match with Krishnan Ajayan scoring one of the goals of the tournament.  India defeated Kyrgyzstan 3-0 to progress to the final where they beat Syria 1-0 thanks to a first half goal from N.P. Pradeep, to lift their first trophy under Bob Houghton.

The 2009 edition also had a similar round robin format with five teams taking part but instead of Cambodia and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Lebanon participated. India got off to a nightmare start as Lebanon beat them 1-0. However Bob Houghton’s side bounce backed with a 2-1 win over Kyrgyzstan and then in the next game defeated Sri Lanka 3-1 to reach the final. Bob Houghton rested the regular starters in the final round robin game against Syria, which they lost 1-0. Syria were the opponents in the  final also, which didn’t produce any goal in the 90 minutes but a delightful curling freekick from Renedy Singh gave India the lead in extra time. However Syria defender Ali Diab dramatically equalized in the last minute of extra time to take the match to penalties. In the shootout Subrata Paul proved to be the hero by stopping three spot-kicks as India won 5-4 on penalties to lift their second successive Nehru Cup crown.

Promoting Youth

One of the biggest positives during the Bob Houghton era was the Englishman’s willingness to promote the younger players. Firstly in the senior national team he gave the likes of Subrata Paul, Gouaramangi Moirangthem, Anwar Ali, Sunil Chhetri the nod ahead of many senior players and kept faith in them throughout. Realizing that the future of the national team is the various age group sides, Houghton recommended the AIFF to send the under-23 side to the 2009 SAFF Cup. It proved to be a successful plan as India won the tournament in Bangladesh after beating holders Maldives in the final on penalties. Even for the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup, an under-23 side represented India and although they got knocked out from the group stage, many of the members of that squad were the nucleus of the team that did well to reach the round of 16 at the 2010 Asian Games.

The formation of the Indian Arrows team was also Houghton’s idea as the former India Under-19 side was kept together to constitute an I-League club without foreigners. The plan was to give those youngsters maximum exposure and their improved showing in the I-League shows that the idea was right. That exposure has already started producing results on the international stage also as the Indian Olympic side, which comprises largely of Indian Arrows players, defeated Myanmar 3-2 on aggregate to progress to the next round where they will face Qatar. Even in the senior national team, there are quite a few Indian Arrows players who already look ready for a regular place in the side.

Winning AFC Challenge Cup 2012 Qualifying Group

When Bob Houghton named a new-look India squad for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers 2012, there were doubts on whether India can produce results with youngsters. With the qualifiers being held in Malaysia and India being placed in a tricky group alongside Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei and Pakistan, Houghton had a point to prove. There was added pressure because of AIFF’s disappointment at India’s early exit from Asian Cup 2011 and with rumours about Houghton’s end as India coach gaining momentum. Also, the fact that India didn’t have a good record abroad under the Englishman raised concerns on whether they would qualify for the competition that could once again open the door for an Asian Cup berth.

But like any good experienced coach, Houghton did the talking by producing results on the pitch. India won their group with two wins and a draw to silence their doubters. Sunil Chhetri led by example in the absence of Bhaichung Bhutia as India defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in their first game but the 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan was possibly the best performance as India came back from a goal down to win the match. Despite fielding a weakened side, Team India still managed to draw 1-1 with Turkmenistan to finish first in the group.  A new star in striker Jeje Lalpekhlua, who scored in each of the three games, was born. The likes of Raju Gaekwad, Jewel Raja and Shilton D’Silva also impressed with Subrata Paul, Gouramangi Moirangthem and Steven Dias taking extra responsibility. The team had a perfect mix of experience and youth but Houghton would only be rewarded with a show cause from the AIFF just hours after their 1-1 stalemate with Turkmenistan.

Qualifying For Asian Cup 2011

Undoubtedly Bob Houghton’s greatest achievement as India coach was qualifying for Asian Cup 2011 by winning the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup. India had not competed in Asia’s biggest competition since 1984 but had a great chance of qualifying for Qatar 2011 when AFC announced that the winners of the 2008 and 2010 Challenge Cups, a competition for the emerging nations of the continent, will earn an automatic berth. With the 2008 edition taking place in India, Bob Houghton’s side had a great opportunity to qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time in nearly three decades. But with the presence of North Korea, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in the tournament, India had their work cut out. 

Team India kicked off their campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Afghanistan and then earned a hard fought 1-1 draw with defending champions Tajikistan.  Bhaichung Bhutia inspired the Men in Blue to a 2-1 victory over Turkmenistan in the final group game to progress to the semis. In the semi-final India were up against a hard working Myanmar side on a muddy pitch at Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Stadium.  Sunil Chhetri showed great bravery to score a late winner as India progressed to the final where they would face Tajikistan. Bob Houghton’s side produced a fantastic display as India thrashed the Central Asians 4-1 with Sunil Chhetri scoring an impressive hat-trick in front of a packed Ambedkar Stadium crowd. It was Houghton’s second trophy as India coach but most importantly India had finally earned a place at the biggest stage of the continent.

Possession football is what AIFF wants

PANAJI: Armando Colaco has steadfastly refused to apply for the national coach's vacancy. But even if he misses the bus yet again -- solely due to his reluctance to apply rather than be invited -- he could still be the man the new coach would have to take some lessons from.

Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia poses along with teammates during the launch of the new national team kit in New Delhi. 

The All India Football Federation has started its hunt to search for Bob Houghton's replacement, and the first criteria that the new man will have to follow is to stay true to possession football, just like Dempo Sports Club have done for almost a decade with astounding success.

"The style of football that was being played during Houghton's era was flawed. The long ball game is absolutely unsuitable. The new coach should be able to bring with him possession football, the kind of passing game that is pleasing," AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told TOI on Monday.

The AIFF has already started receiving interest from at least a dozen coaches -- former Ghana national coach, Mariano Barreto, currently training Bahrain side Al Ahli is one of them -- and the federation is likely to sift through the CVs early next week.

"We are open to all coaches, both foreign, Indian and even those who are currently working with clubs here. If the coach can fulfill the criteria that we have drawn up, we should not have a problem handing over the responsibility to one of our own," said Das.

I feel sad for Bob Houghton: Baichung Bhutia

There will be a few happy people at the Football House in New Delhi. The officials, running the game, won the ugly battle against chief coach Bob Houghton.

Whether Houghton resigned on Saturday because of the ‘personal reasons’ — as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) put it in the media release — will remain unknown, but sources say the Englishman was forced to put his papers so that the charges of racism against him would be dropped.

But at the receiving end of this saga are the players. “I don’t know if it is a battle of egos or purely because of non-performance, which the AIFF says. One thing that I know is that this is a very, very sad day for Indian football. If AIFF think that Houghton hasn’t done a good job then I don’t know how their thinking goes,” fumes skipper Baichung Bhutia.

The veteran striker isn’t one of those who shows his emotions often. But such is the sensitivity of the issue that even the most experienced Indian player couldn’t keep his cool.

“I think the thing that went against him was the poor performances and the comments he made regarding the infrastructure. But what’s wrong in what he said? Even (AFC president) Bin Hammam has been criticising it!” he points out.

The reason why Bhutia feels let down is not just because Houghton, India’s most successful coach, has to leave in such an unceremonious manner. He credits the South Africa-based Englishman for a turnaround in his career. “I had retired from football in 2006. I had lost will to play and had made up my mind. But he coaxed me out of it and made me believe in my abilities. Since then, I have been named the most valuable player in three tournaments,” he says.

Then, it was the Asian Cup as well. “I owe him big time for that. For a player from our continent, that’s the biggest tournament after the World Cup. It was a dream for the players of my generation to play in that tournament,” adds Bhutia.

So what is it that makes Houghton such a favourite among the players? “He never bothered regarding our off-the-field actions…” says Bhutia, who has played under several coaches in his long international career. “…never interfered. All he wanted was that we give a 100 per cent in training and in matches. There was no favouritism. That’s why he is respected so much by all of us.”

The biggest challenge for the next coach, Bhutia says, will be to match the standards set by Houghton. “I am sure the boys will support the next coach like they did Houghton.”

Bencherifa in the fray to succeed Houghton

KOLKATA: With the Bob Houghton era in Indian football coming to an end on Saturday, the question doing the rounds is who will take over the reins of the senior team. AIFF general secretary Kushal Dassaid that the process of choosing the next coach will begin now.

Though there was no official confirmation from the AIFF, but it has been learnt from reliable sources that Salgaocar SC coach Karim Bencherifa could be in line to take over from Houghton. Two factors are in Karim's favour.

First, he has enjoyed considerable success with three Indian clubs - Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan and now Salgaocar - in Goa and Kolkata. And, then, everybody is impressed with the way the Moroccan has transformed a struggling Salgaocar side into leading contenders for the I-League title this season.

Moreover, having worked five seasons in Kolkata and Goa means that he knows most of the Indian players very closely which is a huge advantage rather than someone who will have to begin from a scratch. He is also well aware of the facilities and infrastructure in the country and can chalk out his plans accordingly.

Secondly, during his stint in the country, Bencherifa has unearthed new talents like R Vashum, Robert Lalthalma and Manish Mathani, which will surely help the next coach to rebuild the national team.

Bencherifa, however, refused to make any comment when asked over the matter, saying he had not been approached by anyone in the AIFF. For the record, Bencherifa's contract with Salgaocar runs out in May.

A big blow: Bhaichung

Calcutta: India captain Bhaichung Bhutia said he played the best football of his life under Bob Houghton, who quit has nat ional coach on Saturday. “The biggest achievement in my career and under Bob’s regime has been to qualify for the Asian Cup. Personally, I have had my best football career under him,” Bhutia told The Telegraph on Saturday.

“Bob’s resignation is unfortunate and a big blow to Indian football. He won us three major tournaments (Nehru Cup twice in 2007 and 09; AFC Challenge Cup in 2008) and, most importantly, helped India qualify for the Asian Cup. Whoever comes in next have big shoes to fill,” Bhaichung added.

Bhaichung backed Houghton on the racial slur controversy. “For me there is no controversy. We have been working together for so many years and we never came across anything like that. I don’t know what the referee (Dinesh Nair) heard and what he complained about,” Bhaichung said.

India player Syed Rahim Nabi saluted Houghton for his hard work with the national players. “I salute Bob sir for guiding me… He is a great coach and was like God to me,” Nabi said.

Like Bhaichung, Nabi considered qualifying for the Asian Cup as a high point in Indian football.

“Because of Bob sir, we could qualify for the Asian Cup and that is a huge achievement. I don’t know when we would qualify for the World Cup, but for me an outing in the Asian Cup is as good as playing in the World Cup,” Nabi said.

The East Bengal defender reminisced the faith the British coach pinned on every player. “The great thing about Bob sir was he used to have deep faith in every player.”

Bhaichung rued having failed to live up to Houghton’s expectations during the Asian Cup. “We could have done better. It’s not easy to straightaway rub shoulders with Australia, South Korea and Bahrain… To blame Houghton for the debacle is not only silly but unjust,” he said.

The Sikkimese Sniper, however, cautioned the AIFF to be careful in picking Houghton’s successor. “It’s not my job to decide whether we need a foreign coach or someone from the country.”

India's football coach Houghton resigns

New Delhi: As reported by Goal.com few days back, the All India Football Federation and Bob Houghton were mulling over the possibility of a barter trade wherein the former would drop all the racism allegations if the latter would submit his resignation with immediate effect.

In a meeting held at the AIFF office on Saturday afternoon the two parties finally came to a mutual understanding and decided to part ways.

Houghton has been show caused by the AIFF for several reasons, primary amongst which is the racism indictment after fourth referee Dinesh Nair complained of the coach referring him as a "B****** Indian referee" back in October last year when India faced Yemen in Pune.

In his reply to the notice, Houghton had refuted the allegations made and his lawyer even went to the extent of branding them "frivolous."

While the allegations could in no ways be proved true in the absence of video and audio recordings, it served as perfect plot for the AIFF to see the back of Houghton who didn't want his resume to be stained.

The Technical Committee of the Indian FA also wasn’t too pleased with the performance of the Indian national team at the 2011 Asian Cup given the amount of expenditure incurred and didn’t take the Englisman’s comments on poor infrastructure in the 146th ranked nation congenially.

It must also be noted that AIFF had offered Houghton a fresh contract less than a year back until 2013 and with an improved pay packet.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to be developed into football hub

New Delhi,In a bid to improve football infrastructure in the country, the sports ministry is going to develop the showpiece Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, into a football hub.


Sports Minister Ajay Maken, during a South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) seminar here Thursday, spelt out the steps being taken to improve the standard of the game.


"First, we are going to lay down synthetic turfs in the states where All India Football Federation (AIFF) doesn't have any infrastructure. We would also request the AIFF to give us the technical expertise to lay down the turfs. We have cerated huge infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games and we are looking to develop them into hubs for different sports. The Nehru Stadium will be developed into a hub for football," said Maken, a day after he feliciated the footballers who represented India at the 1960 Rome Olympics.


The training of the national team and interntional matches will be held at the Nehru Stadium.
Maken also said that besides Nehru Stadium the sports ministry has also identified two more stadiums, with floodlight facilities, in the national capital that would be used for football.


"We are also trying to identify which of the 79 Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centres can be developed for football. We have similar plans for our 12 centres of excellence in the country," said Maken.
AIFF president Praful Patel, also India's heavy industries minister, said the federation has earmarked $8 million for developing infrastructure.


"Of the $8 million, around $5.5 million will be spent on laying of synthetic turfs in the country," he said.
Patel also thanked Maken for helping Indian football.


"When you have a young sports minister after a long time, changes like these are bound to happen," he said.

Football to be "major" sport in Centres of Excellence: Maken

NEW DELHI: Sports minister Ajay Maken on Thursday announced that football will be made a "major" discipline in 12 Centers of Excellence in the country while also proposing to make Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium a hub for the game.

Maken said the sports ministry would extend all possible help to the AIFF (All India Football Federation) to revive Indian football to its glorious past.

"If there is one sport which should be given all the attention, it is football. The sports ministry wants it to be taken to its glorious past," he said at a seminar of the South Asian Football Federation in the presence of AIFF president Praful Patel and Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed bin Hammam.

"Till 2008, an important sport like football was not in the 'priority' list of the government but was put in 'others' category. However, it was brought back to the 'priority' list and through that the sports ministry will be able to give more money to the sport.

"We are trying to find out how many of 79 SAI Centres in the country can be used as training facilities for football. In 12 Centres of Excellence in the country, we are going to add football as major sports or convert them into facilities with football as major sports," he said.

Maken said India would be in "queue" to take football to greater heights by taking inspiration from Qatar, which hosted the Asian Cup in January and will also be hosting the World Cup in 2022.

"The Hindi word 'katar' sounds similar to Qatar and its meaning is to be in queue. So we are in queue to become a football country," he said with Qatari bin Hammam, who is fighting election for FIFApresidency in June, at his left side at the dais.

Praful Patel suggested that the sports ministry establish a Center of Excellence for football or make an existing one dedicated to football.

"I am not talking about football only but my suggestion is that pick three or four sports and establish a Center of Excellence for each of these. This is though my suggestion," said the heavy industries and public enterprises minister.

Patel praised Maken for his slew of initiatives after he took over as sports minister recently.

"This is what we can expect for a genuinely young sports minister. Wish you all the best," Patel said about his junior ministerial colleague at the United Progressive Alliance government.

Maken said the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at the capital will be converted to a hub of football and athletics.

ONGC, Air India, HAL excluded from next season's I-League

NEW DELHI: After missing several deadlines, three I-League clubs - Air India, ONGC and HAL - will finally face the axe from the elite division football league as they failed to meet the club licensing criteria set by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The three public sector undertakings (PSUs) will not be seen in action from the 2011-12 season as they failed to declare themselves as commercial entities, which was one of the criteria set by pro-league committee of the AFC.

The ad-hoc committee formed by the Asian body met under the chairmanship of AFC president Mohammad Bin Hammam here Wednesday and it was found that of 14 elite division I-League clubs, these three failed to meet the club licensing rules. The clubs won't be eligible to play in the second division I-League as well.

The clubs were given a December 31, 2010 deadline to fulfill the criteria and submit all the required documents to AFC. A final decision on the eligibility of the I-League as a fully professional league will be taken Thursday.

A top AIFF official, on the condition of anonymity, said that Hammam was unhappy about the fact that three institutional clubs failed to meet the licensing criteria despite assurances from All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel.

The Qatari, who is the third powerful football administrator in the world, felt it was time to come down hard on the erring clubs, which was not allowing the I-League to become a fully professional league.

"After several deadlines, the three clubs couldn't convert themselves as commercial entities to fulfill the AFC criteria," the AIFF official said.

The official said that three clubs should take a cue from Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) Football Club, which despite being a PSU declared itself a commercial entity in the second division.

"The licenses are renewed annually. The clubs can still be a part of the second division if they fulfill the licensing criteria by year-end," the official said.

A top ONGC official said the institutional clubs have always supported Indian football. "ONGC have been the sponsors of the national league for a long time and we have also sponsored the Nehru Cup. This decision is a step backward when PSUs are coming forward to help Indian football."

Indian football has talent, needs international exposure: Brahmanand

JAMSHEDPUR: Former Indian goalkeeperBrahmanand Shankhwalkar on Sunday said that the country has plenty of talents and could do well in international level if the AIFF hosts foreign teams on a regular basis.

"It is not that we do not have talents. We have good players with technique, physique and speed but we lack style of play and international exposure at home," Brahmanand, an Arjuna awardee, said in Jamshedpur.

We should invite foreign teams to play at home more than sending our boys abroad, he said.

"The matches against the foreign teams should be played in every states, particularly in football in football crazy places such such as Kerala, Goa, West Bengal to promote and encourage the sport," Brahmanand, the assistant coach of Goa's Sesa Football Academy that participated in the AIFF 2nd Division I-League qualifying round matches, said.

Brahmanand strongly advocated for a 2nd division league rather than a qualifying round for elevation to the main I-league.

Ten teams from across the country should be selected based on points earned in the qualifying round and than conduct a 2nd division league for them. This would provide more opportunities for upcoming players to prove their mettle, he said.

Regretting that the number of tournaments in some of the states like Kerala has come down, Brahmanand, whose international career lasted for about a decade in the 1980s, said attempts should be made to organise more tournaments in states as well as home and away leagues to promote football.

Brahmanand said instead of the top players, the second rank and upcoming footballers should be preferred in the local tournaments and leagues organised at state level.

The local leagues should be made purely for locals to provide more exposure, Brahmanand said.

The top footballers should be allowed to concentrate when they were playing I-league or representing the country to ease their physical load, he said adding that such move would certainly provide opportunity to others to improve their performance.

Brahmanand said the idea to start "local leagues for locals" was to create more strikers.

Brahamanand claimed Sesa Football Academy was the only team participating in the qualifying round I-league that did not hire a single foreigner.

Asked if India lacks a qualified coach, Brahmanand said it was ironical that when the Indian brains were sought-after in all sectors, the meritorious football coaches were not being trusted.

"Identify talented coaches, educate them properly and ensure excellent facility including payment. I am confident India is not lacking as far as good coaches are concerned," the former goalkeeper said.

Even Real will struggle on Indian pitches: Bhutia

If the Indian youth remains an ardent fan of football forever but reluctant to take up the sport, blame it on the poor pitches ” that's India skipper Baichung Bhutia's damning verdict.

Blaming poor quality of infrastructure for the miserable state of Indian football, Bhutia on Friday said that quality grounds were essential to luring youngsters.

India skipper Baichung Bhutia

"Indian youth watch and follow European leagues. It's clear that they love football but they should be playing the sport more. And we don't have good grounds for that," Bhutia, co-owner of second division side United Sikkim Football Club, told Sunday MiD DAY.

"There aren't enough football stadiums in the country. And the quality of the existing stadiums isn't up to the mark."

The Indian captain was in the city to launch the Indian Football Development Society along with Oscar-winning sound editor Resul Pookutty.

Bhutia explained that Indian football could compete with lucrative European leagues for television viewership but the bad playing conditions were an impediment.

"Poor pitches affect the game and the quality of football drops. A good pitch ensures a good quality game and people want to watch good quality football," Bhutia said.

"Even if teams like Arsenal and Real Madrid are made to play on a bad ground, their quality will reduce immensely.

"That's why people prefer to watch the English Premier League on TV rather than Indian football," added Bhutia.

Bhutia believed the football loving youth of India deserve better.

"We need to back talented players and the least we can do is give them good infrastructure. Who knows, one of them can become the next Cristiano Ronaldo!"

IFDS's objective is to ensure India's participates in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and acquires the hosting rights for the 2026 edition.

EPL Betting Preview - Everton vs Blackburn

Career Dynamics:Shaping futures(IITJEE AIEEE)

It has been a strange season for Everton but they are still in with a chance of claiming a top-six finish and look decent value to beat Blackburn on Saturday.

The Toffees started slowly under David Moyes this term, as has been the case in a number of recent campaigns under the Scot, and their lack of a prolific striker has once again hurt the Merseyside club.

No Toffee has bagged more than nine Premier League goals to date, Tim Cahill leads the way, but Everton remain tough to beat and haven't lost a top flight game at Goodison since November.

That defeat was a 4-1 reversal at the hands of West Brom when Everton were struggling but they have really picked up since the turn of the year and are now unbeaten in six Premier League matches. Only Arsenal lie ahead of Moyes' men in the form table and there was plenty to like about their 3-0 win at Wolves last time out.

Two stunning strikes, from the unusual sources of captain Phil Neville and Russian Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, were the highlights in that success at Molineux and all of a sudden the goals are flowing for Everton.

The signing of Jermaine Beckford from Leeds United in the summer was criticised by many but the striker notched again on the weekend and he has performed with credit when called upon in the continued absence of the crocked Louis Saha.

A win for Everton on Saturday would take them momentarily just one point adrift of rivals Liverpool and, with the Anfield club Emirates-bound 24 hours later, the battle for local bragging rights remains competitive entering the closing weeks of the season.

Europa League football next term looks unlikely for either but Moyes will be keen to finish on a high and a maximum haul against struggling Rovers is well within Everton's grasp.

Just three points above the relegation zone, Blackburn fans can be forgiven for lamenting the new owner's decision to replace Sam Allardyce with assistant Steve Kean in December and it is going to be a worrying few weeks for the Ewood Park faithful.

Three consecutive draws have steadied the ship somewhat for Kean but the loss this week of influential captain Ryan Nelsen for the remainder of the season through injury could prove crucial in their bid to beat the drop and the fact remains Blackburn have not won since mid-January.

Were that trend to continue then surely Championship football beckons in August and it is hard to see where the next three points are coming from for Saturday's visitors. Blackburn were dogged in a goalless draw at Arsenal in their penultimate fixture but they lack quality going forward and I don't see them troubling Tim Howard's goal too often.

The FA Cup semi-finals will hog the headlines this weekend, both are being staged at Wembley, but the pair look priced accordingly and Everton are the value. I have them closer to the 1/2 mark than the prices being quoted and VC Bet's 7/10 will do nicely.

Career Dynamics:Shaping futures(IITJEE AIEEE)

There can be no football in Asia without India – AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam

The Qatari, running for Fifa presidency, once again highlighted the importance of the nation and believes the performance at the recent Asian Cup was "encouraging"

Each time Mohamed Bin Hammam speaks in the capital of India, he is all praise for the potential the 146th ranked nation has in the world’s most popular sport.
The AFC President, who will be competing in the Fifa presidency elections come this June against Sepp Blatter, was speaking at a meeting of the AFC Ad-Hoc Committee for Indian Football, of which he is the chairman, in Delhi on Wednesday.
He said: “I believe that since we last met we have achieved a lot. I appreciate your commitment and dedication because without this no improvement can take place. In my capacity as AFC President, I am very much committed.
“Without India there can be no football in Asia. We will work hand in hand to achieve our goal,” said Bin Hammam.
He went on to praise the efforts of the Indian national team at the 2011 Asian Cup and highlighted that such appearances in major tournaments only go onto encourage the sport in the country.
Bin Hamman added: “Another evidence was the participation of the Indian team in the Asian Cup in Doha.
“We were happy to see the progress of the team and though we need a lot more, the appearance at the Asian Cup was not a bad one. It was an encouraging one. It made the people think of how much India is capable of giving to Asia."

AFC to professionalize football in India

Career Dynamics:Shaping futures(IITJEE AIEEE)

New Delhi, Apr 14 (IBNS) The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Ad-hoc Committee for Indian Professional Football met here under the chairmanship of AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam and made several proposals to further the professionalisation of the game.

Attending the fourth meeting of this committee, which has been set up with the aim of professionalising football in the country, were the All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Praful Patel, who is the Deputy Chairman, along with FIFA Executive Committee member Manilal Fernando, prominent Indian club owners and officials.

The key proposals, which were deliberated upon and recommended to the AIFF, were: composition of the I-League, timeline to set up the I-League 2011-2012 season, the registration of I-League clubs and the I-League organisation.

At the outset, Bin Hammam said the commitment of the members and the AIFF was spurring professional football in India.

“I believe that since we last met we have achieved a lot,” said Bin Hammam. “I appreciate your commitment and dedication because without this no improvement can take place. In my capacity as AFC President, I am very much committed.

“Without India there can be no football in Asia. We will work hand in hand to achieve our goal.”

The AFC chief also referred to India’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011.

“Another evidence was the participation of the Indian team in the AFC Asian Cup in Doha,” said Bin Hammam.

“We were happy to see the progress of the team and though we need a lot more the appearance of the Asian Cup was not a bad one. It was an encouraging one. It made the people think of how much India is capable of giving to Asia.”

A thorough and wide-ranging inspection of all I-League clubs was conducted last year by an AFC Professional Football Project Special Mission Team, and the members, after discussing the report presented to them, approved the composition of the I-League first division with 10 clubs that have met the criteria and decided to give a waiver to four clubs, which have failed to meet the requirements.

The 10 clubs, which complied with the I-League criteria, are: 1. McDowell Mohun Bagan (Salt Lake Stadium), 2. Kingfisher East Bengal (Salt Lake Stadium), 3. Chirag United SC (Barasat Stadium - To improve the stadium facilities by July), 4. Viva Kerala(Jawahar Stadium- to improve the stadium facilities by July), 5. Mumbai FC (Cooperage Football Stadium - to improve the stadium facilities by July), 6. JCT Mills FC(Guru Nanak Stadium), 7. Pune FC (Ballewadi Stadium), 8. Churchill Brothers SC (Nehru Stadium), 9. Dempo SC (Nehru Stadium), 10. Salgaocar SC (Nehru Stadium).

The members also recommended that three clubs - ONGC (Cooperage Football Stadium), Air India (Cooperage Football Stadium) and HAL Bangalore (Karnataka FA Stadium) – who failed to meet the ‘commercial entity’ criteria, and also AIFF XI (Ambedkar Stadium) be given a grace period of one season in the first division on the condition that if any one of them wins the I-League or finishes second or third, they will not be eligible to represent India in the AFC Champions League.

It was further suggested that the top two second division teams would be eligible for promotion to the first division only if they satisfied the professional league criteria. In case they fail to meet the criteria then there would be no relegation of any club from the first division, which would continue with the same 14 teams.

The members agreed to a proposal that the deadline for the clubs to improve their stadiums would be July 2011, following which another inspection of the clubs would be undertaken in July-September 2011. Thereafter, the I-League’s 2011 season would kick off on September 2011.

The committee proposed that the I-League Regulations should be revised to ban the registration and participation of I-League clubs in other leagues other than the I-League and that I-League club players should not be allowed to register with any other club other than I-League clubs.

With all the matches at present being organised by the local football association, the committee proposed that the clubs should start implementing the home match operations, including and not limited to ticket sales, match operations, and security.

Big time football returns to Nehru Stadium with I-League

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Big time football is all set to return to the showpiece Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is planning to host I-League matches from the next season.
The sports ministry Thursday declared that the Nehru Stadium, built in 1982 for the Asian Games, will be made a hub for football.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary general Kushal Das told IANS that the federation is now seriously thinking of hosting some I-League matches at the Nehru Stadium, which was renovated for the Commonwealth Games at a cost of Rs.961 cores. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000.
"After sports minister Ajay Maken announced that the Nehru Stadium will be developed as the hub for football, the AIFF is now seriously thinking of having some I-League matches there," said Das.
Das, however, ruled out having any international matches this year at the Nehru Stadium.
"There is no chance of having international matches at Nehru Stadium because the Olympic qualifiers will be held in Pune and the World Cup qualifiers in Chennai," he said.
Maken said Thursday that the Nehru Stadium will be the hub for football and also proposed that the Delhi-based Indian Arrows, run by AIFF, could shift their base from Gurgaon to the stadium.
"In the days to come the Nehru Stadium will be the most important stadium for football. Indian Arrows can shift their base here since the stadium will be used for residential purpose for the elite footballers as well. We are trying to build residential facilities for 150 sportsperson," said Maken.
The sports ministry said that Sports Authority of India (SAI) along with AIFF are trying to lay the main pitch and the practice pitches.
Das agreed that the turf at the Nehru Stadium is in poor shape.
"A lot of work needs to be done on the pitch and it will take some time to get everything in place before we start hosting I-League matches.

FIFA sanctions $2 million grant for Cooperage

In what can potentially be the answer to city’s infrastructural woes, FIFA has sanctioned $2 million for the renovation of Cooperage football ground, a top All India Football Federation official informed.

The amount has been granted as a part of FIFA’s Win in India with India programme, and Cooperage is the only ground from the country to receive the financial assistance. The decision was announced during a meeting of Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Ad Hoc committee for Indian Professional Football in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting was presided by AFC president and FIFA presidential candidate Mohammad bin Hammam.

“Cooperage has a nostalgia attached to it, and it is a very important venue for football in the country. It is a known fact that the ground needs to be refurbished and that is the reason why we have decided to sanction the amount to Cooperage,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told DNA. “FIFA has allotted $2.5 million for stadium renovations. Out of that, $2 million is allotted to Cooperage and the rest of the amount will be divided among other venues. This grant does not include the cost FIFA is bearing for laying of the artificial turfs which are sanctioned by them,” Das added.

The Western India Football Association (WIFA) has already chalked out the plan to refurbish Cooperage. It is learnt that apart from new flood lights, temporary stands with proper seating facilities will be created, which can accommodate up to 6,500 people. The dressing rooms will also be renovated. “We all know that Mumbai desperately needs a good football ground and our aim is to provide that. It is very good news for us,” said CEO, WIFA, Henry Menezes.

The process to lay the artificial turf at Cooperage has already begun and is expected to take two to three months at least. But because of a High Court order, the WIFA cannot make physical changes to the ground. An AFC committee will inspect the progress at the venue in July.

Meanwhile, there was more good news in store for the city-based clubs as the AIFF eased its stand against the three clubs who were to be eliminated from the I-League. Air India, ONGC and Bangalore-based HAL have been given an extension of one year to meet the guidelines set by the AFC.

AIFF give Air India, ONGC a lifeline

While admitting that institutional clubs didn't comply with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club norms, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday decided that — Indian Arrows, HAL, ONGC and Air India — would take part in the I League for the rest of this season.

Sitting alongside Mohammad bin Hammam, president of the AFC, at a press conference in New Delhi, Praful Patel, the president of the AIFF said the clubs had been given the extra time to comply with the the AFC's club licensing criteria.

The criteria the clubs failed to meet was for the clubs to be separate commercial entities. This was not the case in the case of Air India, HAL and ONGC, which were part of the parent Public Sector Units or the Indian Arrows, which is owned and managed by the AIFF. Arrows are currently 9th in the 14-team I League, while HAL, Air India and ONGC are ranked 10th , 13th and last on the table.