Indian men’s football team recently won two back-to-back tournaments – Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship – against formidable opponents. This led to much euphoria among fans across the country. This has also sewed hope for the small clubs who dream of a better football future in the country.
The News Mill caught up with Siddhartha Sankar Deka, the director of Guwahati City FC, a newly formed club in Guwahati as the name indicates.
As someone who is deeply involved with the game, Siddhartha is happy and hope at the development.
“We, as football fans are so pleased to see the attention Indian football has been able to draw lately. It is necessary for the overall growth of the game. But, what is more important that Indian men’s football team has now been playing in a very pragmatic way under Coach Igor Stimac,” he told The News Mill.
“Now, we seem to know our strengths and accept our weaknesses to formulate a very intelligent way to face stronger opposition. That was clearly visible against the teams like Lebanon and Kuwait against whom we used to struggle in the past.”
Going deeper in the technicalities, Siddhartha said the linkup play, the transition from the goalkeeper, the confidence in own box, the physicality, the dummies, the trickery in the wings, the overhead long balls to break on the counters, the shape players maintained even when they lose the ball, are the signs of progress.
“This confidence and pragmatism will go long way in the upcoming Asian Cup against the likes of Australia and Uzbekistan. The coach is asking for longer national camp before the Asian Cup, which is just and I hope All India Football Federation will pay heed to it,” he added.
How the clubs like GCFC and others are motivated with the performance of the national team?
“Growth of the game largely depends on the success of the national teams. But for the success of the national team, the club football structure needs to be stronger. The AIFF has already released its vision 2047 document, Youth Leagues, Blue Cubs programme and a merit based senior league structure,” Siddhartha reckoned.
He also appreciated the federation for its long term policy.
“It is heartening to see the governing body is taking long term route, instead of short sighted stunts. The path is long and it will test our patience. But if the structure becomes robust from the district level, clubs will grow with more mass engagement, more broadcast visibility and more revenue avenues. We can see struggles and long battles. But we sincerely hope, our club will grow so as Indian football in a well designed structure,” the GCFC director said.
ISL and promotion
With the ISL starting the ‘promotion’ system this year, smaller clubs now can dream of playing in the big league. But what’s the way out?
“It is the most important development happened in the men’s football. Promotion to the top tier must be on the basis of merit, not money. Now that the ISL is open for promotion and relegation to start soon, the whole dynamic of club football is going to change. As a district level club, our path is now open,” Siddhartha said.
He further thanked the Assam Football Association for its initiative to conduct the State Premier League which is the official state league after a long hiatus.
“Winning the Premier League shall give us a spot in the I League 3, which will be the fourth division in the national pyramid and the way to reach the ISL. So, a smaller club like us also has now a certain path to compete in the top division. This needs huge capital and our budget shall increase many fold. So as a club we shall definitely take steps carefully. But, the path is now open and any club now can dream of winning the coveted ISL on merit. Beauty of the game lies on that,” Siddhartha pointed out.
