People all over the world swear by football. Pacey, skillful and flamboyant, football is more than a game for the game’s staunch supporters. However, it’s still next to cricket in our country.
There is incredible passion for football in India and to tap that Liverpool Football Club will launch its first academy on October 1 at the Genesis Global school in New Delhi where 500 students aged eight to 16 will be trained by professional coaches. The club will expand its base to Mumbai, Goa and northern India next year. It may be a small step in bringing football at par with cricket, but it hints at a bigger change in future.
A die-hard cricket fan Abhijit Gun feels football definitely has come to the fore. “Liverpool’s foray into the Indian market will bolster the growth of Indian football. But it also depends on the motive behind their investments. After the mammoth success of IPL, the world has seen the potential in the Indian market and so we see Formula One, football international friendlies, etc making their way to India.”
Given the nature of the game, talent needs to be tapped at a very young age. And since it is not just talent but the support and technical staff which help build a strong team, the club will help train better coaches and support staff.
“If we want cricket to be second to football then we have to create a team that is strong, consistent and can skillfully handle pressure. Japan and South Korea are examples in front of us, where a player with the average height of less than an Indian manages to net the ball and retain the No. 1 and 2 rank of Asian teams. Korean footballer Shane Parker, who plays for ManU, has proved that even an Asian can be a good enough player in the world circuit. The actual problem is inadequate exposure and training. This is a small step towards achieving the goal but one thing is to be remembered that these clubs are good institutions of football with corporate values,” adds Satpathi Guha, who scored goals for his college before he became a finance analyst.
Seconds Pawan Gahlot, another football fan, “We need to pump in money and marketing strategies for all sports in this country. The last few years have seen a meteoric rise in the culture of soccer. It’s no longer restricted to the hilly areas or the bylanes of Bengal. A move like this will help make this sport as popular as cricket in this country.”