Its pretty interesting to note that Egypt who have only only player from the top European leagues (Mido who plays for Boro in the EPL)and is basically built around players who play for domestic clubs in Egypt managed to win the Nations Cup over teams full of international superstars like Ivory Coast,Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon etc. Goes to show the strength of Egypt's structure. They must be doing something good at the grassroot level. A lesson to learn for England perhaps whose domestic clubs are full of foreign players...
RE:Interesting
by rohan on Feb 11, 2008 10:35 AM
u madea valid point , also there are many things India can learn from Egypt if we want to excel in football.I-league is also full of african players.We hardly find a indian striker.
RE:Interesting
by Anindya Dasgupta on Feb 11, 2008 11:07 AM
U r right Rohan. But point is when we talk of India, i firmly believe that till such time when football was a 70% skill and 30% stamina game, India were right up there at least in Asia. Even today, we do not lag behind skill wise, our problem is fitness and upper body strength. Only solution, bring professional dieticians from abroad who are not general ones but football specific, select a large quorum of boys across the country and put them under an intensive diet from early age - say 7 yrs and take them through the years step by step. See the difference then in 10 yrs when such groups start making the grade. There is no use bringing foreign coaches to coach our senior teams , coz however much you coach someone, you cannot make a major difference in body strength and that%u2019s the key these days%u2026
RE:Interesting
by rexberry on Feb 11, 2008 12:09 PM
Good debate here... and thanks for that information about egypt's presence in other leagues... inspite of not having any player in top leagues they have toppled all these african nations whose players are seen in most of the european leagues.... in other words still people are not having access to the best game of football... as we all have a preconceived notion that football played in european leagues are the best and of a top level.... INDIAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS PLEASE TAKE A LEAF FROM EGYPTIANS...
RE:Interesting
by FootballFreak on Feb 11, 2008 01:01 PM
totaly agree with you. In fact the AIFF has woken up and is doing its bit in terms of Housing 40 young footballers on a residential training program under Colm Toal. Moreovwe Airtel's pledge of a 100 crores towards efforts in ensuring India plays worlc cup 2018 is a big hope. The results are already showing. the Under 16 team is playin in the finals of the AFC Cup. thats later this year. Good times ahead for Indian football. If Iraq can do, so can we.
RE:Interesting
by Anindya Dasgupta on Feb 11, 2008 03:55 PM
Dear Football Freak, amen to your thoughts. However, your last line on Iraq has forced me to introduce a topic which is a bit controversial but the one i believe to be the bane of Indian sports in general- OUR VEGETARIAN DIET. You will agree that a large majority of Indian's are vegetarians and religious sentiments forbid them to be otherwise. While admitting the inherant goodness of green and grassy stuff, it is scientifically proved that lack of red meat in your ration has an effect on your aggressive instincts. To be a top level sportsman, you need that bit of positive aggression and not the overt kind.You might have talent but you need that something extra, perhaps what is called as the x factor...
RE:Interesting
by Vikram Ahmed on Feb 11, 2008 08:55 PM
Anindya,
Very good point. In modern football, the three S's of football are arranged in this order: Strength, Stamina, Skill. The Indian diet unfortunately can not provide the x-factor as you mentioned that is thoroughly required for the first two.
RE:Interesting
by Karun Sharma on Feb 11, 2008 04:03 PM
There can be a few factors involved in Egypt domination in African Nation Cups.... 1. Most of players plays in clubs in Egypt, South Africa, Abrabic nations.. they don't have so many matches as those in European clubs have.. they don't have to travel so far... 2. Their club games are seasoned in a way that they have more time to prepare for the cup... BUT BUT BUT Hats off to their Team Work.. and finishing. The way they pass and receive the ball is amazing... They hardly miss the scoring opportunities as well... Indian Football needs more local supporters.... Imagine if the game is famous nationwide ... There will be a lot of talent emerging in very short time... Indian should support their club matches in more agressive way to produce inflow of income to the clubs... England .... nothing can be done unless they give up their image and concentrate on the game...
RE:Interesting
by james ap on Feb 12, 2008 12:05 PM
You r absolutely correct. What I feel that since Football basically is an interation game which required stamina and strength, we need to select players who are well built and tall at the early stage of their teens. In fact, our footballers comes from lower class families who do not have meals for 3 times in a day. This scenerio should change. Find out the talents from upper class families where you can see well built kids. All other indian sports has its own ups in recent times. Games like Football, basketball which are played direct interaction with opp. players, standards of the game is still not upto the mark
