Football ties with Brazil

Talk of games, and India shies off. A Leander here, a Rathore there, that’s all. The mainstream media is so obsessed with cricket that it defies any kind of decent logic. I still remember a misty-eyed TV commentator (of erstwhile Star-NDTV), moved on the verge of tears while reporting on Sachin Tendulkar’s ‘unbelievable greatness’ in returning to play the world cup in UK after his father expired.

Whatever skeptics may opine, the fact is it is the combination of Indian economy opening up and TV’s entry into every urban bedroom that cricket has suddenly become the numero uno game in India. There is a strong similarity between cricket’s popularity and mushrooming of beauty schools on the wake of Sush and Ash’s success. Both are sudden, and supposedly murkier, what with lots of money and self-interests moving about. If anything, neither connects with the masses worth mentioning. What is specially upsetting about cricket is that though this game is not played at grassroots level, it has nevertheless eclipsed all other sporting activities.

PM inaugurating 2004-05 NFL in Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (Picture source)

Now, for the first time it seems football is going to snatch the much-needed limelight, thanks to AIFF (All India Football Federation) president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi and of course our PM, Manmohan Singh. If anyone says Manmohan Singh’s interest in football is a flash in the pan, he is mistaken. One may only recall his pleasure while kicking a football at the inauguration of National Football League in Kolkata a couple of years back. Also the fact that PM has included Das Munshi’s suggestion in the Brazil pact indicates his earnestness in promoting the game.

Ok, so what now? I believe we’ve to trust AIFF that it would at long last do something about football on the back of tie-up with Brazil. It’s very heartening to see that nearly all who love football have lauded the initiative. Doubt still remains as to whether we’ll actually see something on the ground since after all it is ‘government’s efforts’. But then, as we know, something is always better than nothing. Let’s hope India discovers its strength in sporting arena, as much as it has in other fields.

Poetry in motion (Picture source)

Earlier readings:
Football plan of India
Football House of India
The football tragedy
Football Players Association of India