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Why Indian Football Team not Qualifies for FIFA World Cup
Inspite of being the second most populated country in the world, India still fails to qualify for the FIFA world cup. Once again India’s FIFA world cup dream came to an end as they drew the home leg 2-2 but went down 2-5 in aggregate to the UAE(United Arab Emirates) in the first around of Asian qualifiers. Why Indian Football team time and again fails to qualify for the FIFA world cup?
It is always said that football is not popular in India. Yes, it is not popular as cricket. But, it is comparatively followed in India. Traditionally, football has only remained popular in the states of North-East India, West Bengal and in the Arabian sea coastline of Kerala and Goa. Football is often termed as a rural sport in India, and it was the urban poor that thronged the football stadiums whenever there was an international friendly or club matches. The recent international friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela has seen an unprecedented football frenzy all over the country, which shows people in India understand the game and have a love for the game. The government and AIFF (All India Football Federation) must derive maximum benefit from these ventures to promote the game in India.
There are numerous problems that as to be sorted out in Indian Football. We still follow the same old practice methods for our preparation. There is a huge fan following for EPL (English Premier League) and La Liga in India. So, a tournament like Indian Football League (IFL) can do wonders to the game of football in this country, where we can find new talents and mainly sponsors who is a must to promote any game. Indian Super League is doing great, our players get an opportunity to rub shoulders with some iconic international players, strategies from renowned coaches. Its helping a lot to develop the game in India.
Have to wait and watch whether it achieves the dream of every football fan in India "Qualifying for FIFA world cup"
In 1950, Indian Football team was qualified to play the world cup but we did not play in the world cup because of FIFA rule of banning barefoot play (India had already played barefoot in 1948 Olympics). Indian team did not have proper shoes to play the game and they insisted to play the match barefooted, which was not accepted by match officials and the Indian team was disqualified without playing a single match. Who knows, if we would have played that tournament, we might even won the championship. In 1983 cricket world cup, Indian cricket team was termed as underdogs and we won that trophy. After that success, they walked away with all the money, fame and fanfare. Now, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest cricket board in the world and Indian cricket team is one of the best in the world.
World Cup record:
1930 to1938- Did not enter
1950- Qualified but withdrew
1954- Entry not accepted by FIFA
1958 to 1982- Did not enter
1986 to 2018- Did not qualify
If India want to be a super power in football, the game must be well managed along with proper national and international exposure. The government and AIFF must join their hands to conduct a national wide talent search for the game, must select atleast 100 to 150 children in the age group of 10 to 14. Those children should be selected only on the basis of real talent, love and hunger for the game. Those children must get training in advanced techniques, government must provide them with sports wear and goods, a modern gym, assistance and training to take part in sports events abroad. Government must also provide them with food, shelter(sports hostels), clothes and education. This will surely generate atleast 50 world class players. The number of football stadiums in India as to be increased to a considerable amount, there are only two world class stadiums in India, which is insufficient, rest of the stadiums are without floodlights and proper ground facilities. Football is the most followed and loved game in the world. India can qualify to the FIFA world cup if they plan and work with a foresight vision.
India can qualify for FIFA world cup if they follow these steps:
Build up world class infrastructure.
Media should play a bigger role to popularize football.
Sponsors and big companies should give preferences to football.
Recruitment of children from age group of 10-14 and provide them physical and education assistance.
Setting up of football academy with latest facilities.
Stern punishment against corrupted officials.
Try to keep politician out of management committee.
Good amount of money in contract with national team.
Control the clubs which gives priority to the foreign players above Indian players.
Purushothaman Ramachandran
Why Indian Football Team not Qualifies for FIFA World Cup
Inspite of being the second most populated country in the world, India still fails to qualify for the FIFA world cup. Once again India’s FIFA world cup dream came to an end as they drew the home leg 2-2 but went down 2-5 in aggregate to the UAE(United Arab Emirates) in the first around of Asian qualifiers. Why Indian Football team time and again fails to qualify for the FIFA world cup?
It is always said that football is not popular in India. Yes, it is not popular as cricket. But, it is comparatively followed in India. Traditionally, football has only remained popular in the states of North-East India, West Bengal and in the Arabian sea coastline of Kerala and Goa. Football is often termed as a rural sport in India, and it was the urban poor that thronged the football stadiums whenever there was an international friendly or club matches. The recent international friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela has seen an unprecedented football frenzy all over the country, which shows people in India understand the game and have a love for the game. The government and AIFF (All India Football Federation) must derive maximum benefit from these ventures to promote the game in India.
There are numerous problems that as to be sorted out in Indian Football. We still follow the same old practice methods for our preparation. There is a huge fan following for EPL (English Premier League) and La Liga in India. So, a tournament like Indian Football League (IFL) can do wonders to the game of football in this country, where we can find new talents and mainly sponsors who is a must to promote any game. Indian Super League is doing great, our players get an opportunity to rub shoulders with some iconic international players, strategies from renowned coaches. Its helping a lot to develop the game in India.
Have to wait and watch whether it achieves the dream of every football fan in India "Qualifying for FIFA world cup"
In 1950, Indian Football team was qualified to play the world cup but we did not play in the world cup because of FIFA rule of banning barefoot play (India had already played barefoot in 1948 Olympics). Indian team did not have proper shoes to play the game and they insisted to play the match barefooted, which was not accepted by match officials and the Indian team was disqualified without playing a single match. Who knows, if we would have played that tournament, we might even won the championship. In 1983 cricket world cup, Indian cricket team was termed as underdogs and we won that trophy. After that success, they walked away with all the money, fame and fanfare. Now, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest cricket board in the world and Indian cricket team is one of the best in the world.
World Cup record:
1930 to1938- Did not enter
1950- Qualified but withdrew
1954- Entry not accepted by FIFA
1958 to 1982- Did not enter
1986 to 2018- Did not qualify
If India want to be a super power in football, the game must be well managed along with proper national and international exposure. The government and AIFF must join their hands to conduct a national wide talent search for the game, must select atleast 100 to 150 children in the age group of 10 to 14. Those children should be selected only on the basis of real talent, love and hunger for the game. Those children must get training in advanced techniques, government must provide them with sports wear and goods, a modern gym, assistance and training to take part in sports events abroad. Government must also provide them with food, shelter(sports hostels), clothes and education. This will surely generate atleast 50 world class players. The number of football stadiums in India as to be increased to a considerable amount, there are only two world class stadiums in India, which is insufficient, rest of the stadiums are without floodlights and proper ground facilities. Football is the most followed and loved game in the world. India can qualify to the FIFA world cup if they plan and work with a foresight vision.
India can qualify for FIFA world cup if they follow these steps:
Build up world class infrastructure.
Media should play a bigger role to popularize football.
Sponsors and big companies should give preferences to football.
Recruitment of children from age group of 10-14 and provide them physical and education assistance.
Setting up of football academy with latest facilities.
Stern punishment against corrupted officials.
Try to keep politician out of management committee.
Good amount of money in contract with national team.
Control the clubs which gives priority to the foreign players above Indian players.
Purushothaman Ramachandran
Thanks for writing this. If we are able to do these things, we would surely able to qualify for FIFA World Cup within next 10 years!!
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