India is out of the AFC U-16 Championship and out of the
cradle of Asian football. Pragmatically, the one year long training has proved
results, the best of which is that a baby needs time to grow. India is witness
to the growth of football.
Football has been evolving world over through a time when
the emphasis was on developing organising skills instead of developing the
game- feeding the mother, thinking the baby will grow stronger, instead of
focussing on the game. What we have is a skewed baby.
It has been a year now that team India is being put together
and the AFC U-16 Championship has shown that with a year left for the World
Cup, we are still far behind. Honestly, we may never reach the post in a years’
time and it will be an occasion for many to say – at least a start is being
made.
As a team, India has taken great strides in preparing the
youngsters physically for the competition. The boys have been fit; have been
robust; and have been able to match their counterparts physically in most
spheres of the game.
Physical is one aspect of football. Skill is another;
mind-set is still another and the ability to read the opponent is yet another.
There are many sides to this coin of football and to expect the boys to
understand all is being harsh. Yet , one thing is sure- the AFC U-16
Championship has thrown up a goalkeeper who will make many sit and start
singing to many happy goalkeeping days.
Dheeraj Singh was the best Nicolai Adam has given India in
the championship. There are others waiting on the wings to burst. But, Dheeraj
has burst and now needs to be given the chance to bloom. If he does not go far
then it is a sign that there is something seriously wrong with Indian football.
A wrong we are too scared to address.
India has scored five goals and conceded nine. Definitely
not an average that speaks well of the defense . Yet, given the saves- not all
of which were instinctive- Dheeraj was the last line in the defense that gave
the few thousands who came to witness the match a lot to carry on for the
future of football in India.
Boris, Aniket, Raman were the other boys who stood out in
this group that has been pushed through passing time to get ready for the World Cup. The strikers,
the midfield players and defenders have stood up during the AFC but it is time
they start taking steady stride if they do not want to feel like novices in the
world stage.
India needs to have game plans and not a game plan. Playing
is physical as well as mental. Being strong is good but being strong and steady
is better. There need not be a change in focus but a few turns and twists could
go a long way in making us weigh our progress globally.
Too expect this group to do India proud during the World cup
is outlandish. They could not do it now; they will not be able to do it later.
Not all but at least a few. For that change to happen the scouting system will
have to be re-invented all over again and the Indian boy will have to believe
that merit is the criteria of selection and nothing else. Let us separate politics from sports, for a
change.
India is a country of billions and yet it has been difficult
to find eleven boys who can play football. From all the States, we managed to
pick boys from a few states that are relatively new to football. It is here
that the problem lies.
It is futile pointing fingers at Nicolai because Nicolai is
not India. India needs to change, not Nicolai.
Sports in India have always been afflicted with problems
because of the lack of moral policing. There is too much of cheating, nepotism.
Fair play is something that sports is new to. Football is not fun; football is
funny. This is the problem India has to address itself if it wants to prepare
for the world Cup next year.
Let’s stop being funny and let the boys have fun!
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