Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Monday said that India hosting its first ever major FIFA tournament — the U-17 World Cup — next year could be a game changer for Indian football.
"I hope it will be a watershed moment because we are looking at not just Indian team's performance in the World Cup. People would definitely turn up in big numbers and media giving it the right kind of exposure, it will be a big thing. Not just performance but the organization of this mega event. If we can combine both the aspects perfectly, it will motivate a lot of young footballers and parents here to take football," he said at a book launch whose focal point was on India's grassroots development in football.
The book titled 'Back To The Roots, A definitive Guide To Grassroots & Football Development', written by FIFA Regional Development Officer for South and Central Asia, Shaji Prabhakaran, was launched here in the presence of stalwarts of Indian football - former India captains in IM Vijayan, , Jo Paul Ancheri and Bruno Coutinho. Also gracing the occasion was All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel and secretary Kushal Das.
Bhaichung Bhutia congratulated Prabhakaran for his efforts to pen down a book on an area which has long been neglected in Indian football. lamenting over lack of opportunities he had to confront back in his early playing days, he said, "When I used to play football there were hardly any U-16 or U-17 national-level tournaments. I just played only one U-16 tournament for India. However, things have changed now for the better. There is U-17 BRICS tournament and U-16 AFC Championships and Indian players were as good as Brazilians there. So Kids know the rigours of international football before landing into the seniors' team. The focus of AIFF is predominantly grassroots development these days and the book also deals with the same. It's good that we are making efforts right at the base of the pyramid."
Bhutia added the lack of top-class infrastructure still remains an impediment to the development of football in the country, while All India Football Federation president Praful Patel lamented the absence of enough money in sports other than cricket.
Patel felt while they have come a long way as far as infrastructure is concerned, lack of enough money remains an issue.
"We have good grounds, we have just got the FIFA to approve six stadiums for next year's U-17 World Cup and we also got six stadiums approved as stand-bys. We have to see the larger picture. The issue is where is the moneyIJ There is no money in Indian sports apart from cricket. No money in hockey, certainly not in football and other Olympic sports.
"However, in-spite of all this, I would say things are moving in the right directions and it's not as bad as it was a few years ago," AIFF chief Patel said during a panel discussion on the occasion, which was also attended by former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha.
Meanwhile, Bhutia further stated, "While the opportunities are there, infrastructure is still not at that level. For that state associations must work with the state governments, the government and the federation."