Manoel M Flores Junior (Brazil), Gonzalo Bossart (Chile), Pedro Rodrigues (Portugal) and Taufique Ahmed (a former AIFF official) are all in their early thirties. They have different backgrounds. But all four are linked to football. Currently they are working on a project that dwells on Indian football at the FIFA International Master in Zurich. The combo of ideas emanating from a Brazilian, Chilean and a Portuguese and guided by an Indian, if assembled together and endorsed by FIFA later could well become a guideline to resuscicate Indian football by forming a successful and independent league in the line of EPL (England) or La Liga (Spain).
“In India there is only one sport to compete with. While football in America has to compete with four major sports, in India the scenario in different,” Junior said.
“If you compare Indian football with Brazil, Chile and Portugal with their own established leagues, the attempt to create a successful league is seen by some people almost as impossible. This is exactly where we come in. We believe India has got potential in becoming an important stakeholder in world football,” explained Junior, who heads a commercial operations responsible for football telecasts in Brazil. Besides, the Brazilian also control and coordinate the delivery of commercial advertising in TV channels.
But Chilean Bossart is a practicing lawyer who earlier was associated with Chilean government as head of Control Unit and Sports Organizations, ministry of justice, at the Legal Person Department. He also worked with legal department of National Institute of Sports of Chile. Indian football have already entered into a tie-up with Portugal since 2006 and the Indian team have been touring since then. But are these tie-ups going to bring about any changes? “One of our goals is to analyze how effective are these tie-ups. If any of its aspects can be applied in the formation of a league. The exchange of knowledge with Belenenses (one of Portugal’s top clubs) is sure to have an impact on Indian football,” said Pedro Rodrigues.
Junior believes that a Diego Maradona visit will not change Indian football. “Presenting celebrities is certainly an effective marketing strategy but it’s not everything. A mix of initiatives ranging from community partnerships and infrastructure development to media relationships will all have to be dealt with.”
Despite the hurdle, there is a ray of hope. “With only one sport dominating, India allows more room for another to be introduced successfully. Just to remember that we are not talking about any sport, we are talking about the world’s most popular game,” explained Ahmed.
(In New Delhi, 2009)
