The protagonists (Indian football bosses) are in it to look at not only how to improve the league but also through dialogue and discussion and inform the other club owners of their steps and findings. Eventually there might be an amalgamation (between the I-League and the ISL) or the ISL may be prolonged,"
David Platt,
FC Pune City coach
Platt Speak
I see myself as an employee of the football club and as an employee the question of what I’m going to give them is well thought out. I think Pune City and all the other franchises have to generate youngsters, may of them, millions of them throughout the country, so that when they seek a leisure time, they have a football at their feet
-- on his vision for grassroots development
The ISL draft and auction was very alien to a person with my background. I know about the drafts which happen in several sports and the MLS too. It’s not over-alien to me, but the auction was. It would’ve been easy for me to come from my background of structure etc and also from a country where football has been a major sport for such a long period of time, to think, ‘this is silly, it shouldn’t be included in football.’
-- on the 'alien' concept of draft and auction in ISL
The question is how would you create a domestic and global awareness if you keep things quiet? I think it was fun, entertaining and for us it was very profitable. We went to the auction with two targets (Jackichand Singh and Eugeneson Lyngdoh) and came away with both. So from our perspective, it was perfect as we came away with a group of players we wanted.
-- the coach feels the draft and auction are good tools to create 'domestic and global awareness' about football in India
AGENCIES
MUMBAI
David Platt, the FC Pune City coach has expressed the view that the Indian Super League's (ISL) grassroots programmes must begin from an early age, whilst also opining that at some time in the future a rethink of the format of the tournament will be required which may see a amalgamation of both of India's top leagues, namely the ISL and the I-League.
Quizzed on how he'd approach the sticky topic of grassroots, Platt explained, "I see myself as an employee of the football club and as an employee the question of what I’m going to give them is well thought out. I think Pune City and all the other franchises have to generate youngsters, may of them, millions of them throughout the country, so that when they seek a leisure time, they have a football at their feet.
"It’s four-five-six-seven years of age that children learn to feel and like the sensation of kicking a ball, whether you’re playing alone or with your friends. You develop an ability in your feet and then a later date, coaches can come and develop your tactical awareness, your strength etc. So it has to start from a young age. There are people far more qualified than me, who start with kids that age. I would say my benefit comes in from a later age," Platt was quoted as saying by goal.com.
With regards to how he'd assess the impact of the ISL in the two months it was on air, the coach revealed that the first season, according to him, was about breaking ground, whilst the second season would see a far more fluid movement by the organizers.
"Regarding the league, it’s very, very young. Not only is it in the second year, but I would say, that it’s only in the first year that you have actually planned it correctly as last year was a bit of a rush. So I think from that perspective, it’s right for the protagonists that are in it to look at not only how to improve the league but also through dialogue and discussion and inform the other club owners of their steps and findings. Eventually there might be an amalgamation (between the I-League and the ISL) or the ISL may be prolonged," he elucidated.
Clarifying his thoughts on the inaugural auction, Platt revealed the entire process was new to him, expressing, "But just right now, the ISL draft and auction was very alien to a person with my background. I know about the drafts which happen in several sports and the MLS too. It’s not over-alien to me, but the auction was. It would’ve been easy for me to come from my background of structure etc and also from a country where football has been a major sport for such a long period of time, to think, ‘this is silly, it shouldn’t be included in football.’"
The former Juventus medio concluding by adding he thoroughly enjoyed the process and was proud of the fact the franchise got the players they wanted, whilst also of the idea that such a process was necessary to draw popularity thereby gaining global and domestic audience to the ISL.
"The question is how would you create a domestic and global awareness if you keep things quiet? I think it was fun, entertaining and for us it was very profitable. We went to the auction with two targets (Jackichand Singh and Eugeneson Lyngdoh) and came away with both. So from our perspective, it was perfect as we came away with a group of players we wanted. But even as a spectator, even though we had done all our business in Pool A, it was as enthralling in Pool B. I enjoyed the auction as a spectator in Pool B, because we weren’t going to be bidding for players on virtue of already completing our business."
