Q: What is your take on the impending merger between the ISL and I-League?
Vaz: Technically, I-League cannot be merged with ISL; it has to be the other way around. I-League is as per the statutes of AFC and as per FIFA. ISL is a tournament, not a league in its true aspect. The winner of the ISL does not represent the country or participate in an AFC tourney or Champions League. It is just to promote football.
Q: But are you in favour of the merger?
Vaz: It’s nothing about being in favour as such. What is good for football is for the official body to decide. They know everything.
Q: It is given to understand that only three I-League teams are set to be included with the existing eight league teams when the proposed league commences. Your comments.
Vaz: Technically, I have answered your question. ISL clubs do not have the license. There are a lot of clubs that come and go. That is not the criteria. They have to follow the role model of some country with a successful formula of a League. Furthermore, there should be a good First Division and Second Division of 20 teams each. If there is no Third Division, there ought to be a good Zonal League in place. A footballer should play in at least 60 competitive matches a year. There should be at least 100 academies all over the country with at least 10,000 professionals playing the game. On a minimum, you require 8,000-10,000 coaches. We are far behind on all these necessities.
Q: If a team like Sporting Clube de Goa which you own, have to be a part of the unified League, it has to invest a minimum of Rs 35-40 crore. Would Sporting Goa be able to meet to the requirements?
Vaz: Whoever you have heard this from are only trying to hype things. In fact, running a two-month league is more profitable. You will not see all the Bachchans and Kapoors for 10 months. They all come in a package (laughs away). The league has to run for eight months and have at least 18-20 teams. Actually, the problem is not the league. The problem is India does not have a sports culture.
Q: When SCG started, it had to look at establishing its academy, infrastructure, adhere to the AIFF norms. But now with the coming new League, it would have to go through the entire cost-crunching process again. Your thoughts.
Vaz: Which ISL team is doing the grass-roots level programme? When the tournament is over, they go home. They do not do anything. As FC Goa is under the aegis of Dempo, it is visible to the people. But do we see the other seven clubs of the ISL proactive otherwise? This introspection has to be done.
Q: So what is the biggest problem facing Indian football?
Vaz: Biggest problem in India is that we have got Government associations. If you check with FIFA, in certain countries, clubs are getting 50 per cent votes, whereas the remainder of 50 per cent votes go to the State Associations. In India, only the Associations vote. (As the owner of SCG) I am not participating in the decision-making, only spending money. People who are lazy and not doing anything have one vote, like Daman and Gujarat get a vote. Madhya Pradesh does not even have an office of their own, yet they are entitled to vote.
Q: What are your suggestions then for an effective single League?
Vaz: I am not in favour of a merger because you cannot merge 12 foreigners in a squad, with six playing in a League in the country. This has stunted the growth of Indian footballers. How many players have come out for India from ISL? I-League has given players to the country. So that is the answer. ISL is a stage where they are getting crowds to the stadiums. I feel they should continue and be a tournament like how in cricket there is the IPL. I-League is much better, but it has been found wanting in terms of marketing. If people do not want to come, it is their problem.
