Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent radio address urged the nation to help promote football in the country and stressed the need to “take football to every village” in India. Pointing out to the low world ranking of 160, the PM noted that 2017 Under-17 World Cup was a “great opportunity” to kick off a football revolution in the country.
With 24 countries playing 52 matches and the whole world watching, the tournament will be a big test of India’s credentials as a footballing nation. There are already concerns over the slow pace of the preparations for the mega event, with the football world governing body FIFA warning the national federation and AIFF, that much needs to be done to upgrade the infrastructure at the six venues, including Goa. A FIFA delegation
which inspected the venues recently was happy with the planning, but said that implementation still needs to be done properly. It includes completing the stadia and other infrastructural requirements, like dressing rooms, practice pitches and obstruction-
free sitting arrangements.
With October 2016 being the deadline
for completing arrangements, a
question mark hangs over our Central,
state and regional agencies if
they will be able to work together to
meet the deadline.
However, for the fans on the
ground, a bigger concern is whether
India will be able to field a competitive side in the marquee
event. Whether they will be able to compete with the best in
the world, or would be exposed and embarrassed before the
world soccer fraternity. Going by the performances of the senior
national team in the qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA
World Cup in Russia, it appears to be a Herculean task to raise
a team which can at least stand shoulder to shoulder with the
top teams. Stephen Constantine’s men have already bowed out
of contention for a World Cup berth and will now be playing for
the scraps -- a spot in the AFC Asian Cup tournament, the continental
showpiece in Asia.
India hosts Turkmenistan in a 2018 World Cup pre-qualifier
on Tuesday in Kochi. India will compete in the qualifying playoffs
for the Asian Cup and a win against Turkmenistan would
ensure they enter Pot 1, affording them the opportunity to
square off against weaker opposition, thereby increasing their
chance of progressing to the next round. The Blue Tigers did
manage to muster a 1-0 win at home against Guam in November
last year, registering their only point of the campaign so far,
but whatever encouragement they garnered from that performance
may well be shot down after suffering a 4-0 thumping
against Iran in Tehran last week.
India have steadily declined in stature as an Asian powerhouse
and now they are ranked 31 out of the 46 Asian nations.
However, it has to be said -- as the PM himself acknowledges
-- that the 2017 Under-17 World Cup provides a unique opportunity
to the country to start afresh with a set of young ambitious
legs ready to take on the world. It is India’s chance to reboot the
system and produce footballers that force the world to sit up
and take notice.
