Argetenian football sensation, Lionel Messi's visit to India for a friendly match against Venezuela created quite a buzz and his visit left me wondering that can increasing love for football pose any kind of challenge to cricket. Here are some reasons why football can and cannot challenge cricket : The Positive Signs -
- The Nielson Survey shows that about 47 % Indians call themselves a soccer fan.
- Over the last couple of years, investment in football has increased.
- Clubs from English Premier League, especially Liverpool see potential in India.
The Negative Signs -
- Absence of any National icon or International success to generate people's interest.
- India is not even in the top 150 football teams of the world.
- Football's infrastructure is miniscule in front of Cricket's gargantuan edifice.
Corporate giants like Tata Steel have started coaching centres for young kids and they are also providing good training facilities. Similarly, as a positive sign FIFA hasinvested nearly $10 million to develop talent and infrastructure in India.
But the reality is that Cricket is still dominating all other sports right now and the Indians who gave an outstanding response when another Argetenian soccer legend Maradonna visited India earlier this year didn't take much time to forget him and the center of focus was again , cricket. What remains to be seen now is whether people from Kolkata will work for the development of football in their state or are they going to forget Messi's experience and golden oppurtunity for the upcominf Champions League T20 which has Kolkata Knight Riders featuting?
So, Readerland . What do you think can, will and shall happen in the coming future? Please feel free to comment, criticize or whatever you want.
Thank you AHMED for presenting this very valid observant and informative blog.
ReplyDeleteApart from this i wish you best of luck for stating this new journey together.
Thanks brother, hope you and other readers will find this series better and better in future and i'll strie to write much better the next time.
ReplyDeleteNice piece of writeup Ahmad....but i think until India achieve a big success in soccer ,like it did in 1983 in cricket nothing much will change.Masses need inspiration....
ReplyDelete@Anurag, I think you didn't get my point. I am not asking for a world cup win in soccer for India right now, they are not even in the top 150 teams. But India had some momentum going before they went for 1983 World Cup Series. I pray for India's success in soccer and other sports but don't you think something extra needs to be done to break the glass ceiling.
ReplyDelete@ Ahmad- U got me wrong again...i m nt saying that India must win the soccer world cup..agar India qualify bhi kar le world cup ke liye to Footbaal can receive a big boost...but unfortunately they r not doing it even...Cricket became commercialized only after the triumph of India in 1983...and believe me India was a pity ordinary side before the 1983 blast...
ReplyDeleteFirst thing Anurag, I never said that India must win Soccer Cup, so don't put words in my mouth.
ReplyDeleteSecond thing, you're 100% wrong to say that Cricket became commercialized after 1983's win of India. Haven't you heard the name of Kerry Packer and World Series Cricket? Packer already commercialized cricket before India's '83 win.
Third point, India was never an ordinary side before 1983. Infact, India has won multiple international matches and against prominent teams like the West Indies. (the win-loss ratio may differ before '83 and after).