National teams in Europe all have their 'A' teams who play against the 'A' team of their opponents a day prior to the match involving their main teams. Boys from these 'A' teams graduate in course of time to the senior team. Our India 'A' football team could be fielded in the second division of the NFL and other all India tournaments so that they get sufficient match practice besides playing further international encounters with 'A' teams of other countries. In the last eight years or so our NFL teams have been roping in foreign players. Although this has been a good step it has deprived our boys of regular places in their respective teams thus denying them the necessary exposure to display their talents. As a result the boys have been moving from team to team and hopping from bench to bench.Important years of formation and productivity are spent on the bench or in the pavilion on match days. Former greats and current selectors like Prasun, Sathyan, Menezes and our own Brahmanand may have definitely seen this major drawback when it comes to assembling a formidable outfit for national duty. In the past India achieved significant status in Asia. We need to return there with ideas!
