I am not sure about FIFA refusing to allow India barefoot- it seems more like a juicy story! There is evidence that Amed Khan, venkatesh, Shailen Manna, Rahim Khan sahib were all seen practising with `newly ordered boots'' near Maidan. So India was O.K playing with boots on. However, India could not play because of the reason they were invited to play. India could not afford sending the team to Brazil. that was immediately after WW-II- and very few countries (read the Europeans) could afford to send a team. that is why India was invited and she could not eventually send a team either. Regarding the Melbourne Olympics it was a great achievement given that we lost (I think to Czhekoslovakia which had players like Pluskal, Masopust etc) the eventual WC finalist in 1962
RE:Do not think it is true!
by Shuvadeep Lahiri on Jul 12, 2006 06:47 PM
I just want to mention the photo you referred to is not of 1950 but later (possibly in 1951). India played in 1951 Asian Games with boots on but again reverted barefoot in 1952 Helsinki Olympics. There we got thrased 1-10 by Yugoslavia and India ultimately abondonded veinglorious notion of being barefooted. One thing I fail to understand why India can't send a team to Brazil by ship in 1950 while she had send the football team in 1948 London Olympics (despite WW II, Partition etc. Defender Papen was the only player to wear boots on that team) and send the Hockey team from 1928 Amsterdam Olympics onwards.
There is no game without enthusiasm. You can not buy the enthusiasm, passion, interest by money. Yes we need good investments in sport sector. Need sportive crowd, to watch & admire the game, try to make enthusiasm in the society / muhalas by making friendly sport with progressive manor. The popularity of the sport has to come from the common people. The secondary things will be the money & advertisements, whatever you can call investments etc but the primary things still remains the interest of the common people to watch the sport, chat/discuss the sport, & be a part of the sport. Any way we know the Indian peoples interest SPORT is less than 5%.The Majority people don\'t have the interest to watching or admire or to motivate the sport or the sportsman/women. So If you want the real sport to grow in India, it has to come from the schools, society/ muhalas, city, state & national level. All the levels has to be looped together. If the parents will motivate their childrens then the sport will start. Eventually the first spectators will be the parents in the stands & I think that will be the motivation factor for the youngsters. Then Any type of SPORT GAME will start in INDIA.....
India cannot qualify for the World Cup for atleast the next 25 years. I am confident about it. And I am also confident that the govt can do nothing about it simple because it does not want to do anything about it.
The minimum rediff can do for Indian football is give coverage to Indian football. Even when NFL and other major Indian football tournament or India is playing internationally, Rediff is caught sleeping.
Football is a very physical sport which involves a lot of body contact. In my opinion, Indians are very risk averse, we still have an element of untouchability and casteism in our society, and we don't have the stamina to survive 90 minutes of extreme physical activity. Vegetarianism is another major factor. All football states in India have some common traits. Kerala, Bengal, Punjab, NE states and Goa are all non veg states, they are more socially equal, and the element of untouchability is minimal. You go through the villages in these states, you will see that people from all walks of life, regardless of their religions or caste, take part in sports without segregation. On the other hand, Cricket used to be an elite game (it is changing now), which don't need body contact, and less chances of body pain. It is our attitude towards physical work, that we don't have good footballers and good fast bowlers. As I said, as the society evolves, this situation will change. These are just my observations, and my own opinion. I could be wrong, but somebody please provide me with a more convincing reason.
Why just Soccer? What India desperately need are ministers for each and every sport, at both State and Central levels: Minister of Cricket, Min of Stadiums, Min of Football, Min of Hockey, Min of Lacrosse, Min of Swimming, Min of Volleyball, Min of Ping Pong, Min of Tennis, Min of Kabbadai, Min of Jai Alai, Min of Wrestling, Min of Boxing, Min of Roller Hockey, Min of Ice Hockey, Min of Egg and Spoon Race, Min of Cyling, Min of Miscellaneous Sports etc., etc., etc....with over one billion folks, there should be no dearth of people to induct as ministers. Imagine the employment opportunities, with each sport ministry having its own "Bhavan" (Cricket Bhavan, Football Bhavan etc) and if enough good people can't be found, no problem, simply induct every Commissioner of Police to serve as head of each sporting body. There!
RE:How football can thrive in India
by ajit achuthan on Jul 02, 2006 04:56 AM
you always write negative about india. You must be from Pakistan? ..please stay away from these postings if you are not interested in our country's development and progress...atleast try to respect other folk's passion for their counrty even if you have it or not..
Cricket has overshadowed all sports in india. Even Rediff.com has a 'Cricket' section separate from a 'Sports' section. American style marketing/TV packaging has to be implemented. In the US , going to a game is like hanging out with friends in a pub. Spend time and have fun. Sports should be packaged in such ways. Obviously the coaching/skills/players/achievements matter. But on the outside, Marketing will work wonders. Just imagine more Ads of football players/movies made on the game/club merchandise/ Domestic TV coverage. It is true , WE HAVE TO GIVE THE SPORT A MARKETING HYPE. This together with improvement in training facilities will help the sport to rise.
Gentlemans game and Thugs game
by avidnewsreader on Jun 30, 2006 07:47 PM
Since cricket is allegedly a Gentlemans game, and all Indians aspire to be like white english gentleman , there is no place for football in India.Long live gentlemans game!
There is a need to have play grounds.The training for football starts from age of 11& if at this age children are encouraged to play this game they will some get a liking for this game. The games in India start from big cities.In big cities there is a lack of play grounds & those few available are used to play cricket. I have been a boarder during my school days & have played this game hence have a liking for football.
