1. How would you describe the current state of Indian football?
The current state of Indian football is a difficult one. The Indian national team is having difficult times with the results not matching to the expectations. There is sadly a decline since Team India played in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. Many senior players retired from international football after the continental championship and there was a change in the team management.
The I-League didn’t attract too many fans, media and sponsors and it looks like things are not moving forward, although we have seen some great developments with teams like Bengaluru FC and Shillong Lajong FC setting new trends in the market.
Indian football is in a critical stage where the future of the beautiful game will be decided. India has won the bid to host the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and it has also launched the Indian Super League (ISL), a franchise-based tournament with the aim to promote the cause of football in the country. These two competitions are a great chance for India to take football to a new level and make the expected progress.
2. What kind of progress has been made in the women’s game?
The women’s game in India has made a good progress in the recent years, but it is still in its infancy. There is a lot of work to be done. There is a need for a professional Women’s league, youth leagues, grassroots development, coaching and much more. I think we need to push the cause of women’s football in India. We can’t concentrate on the men’s game only. Developing football in a country does mean to develop the game for boys and girls.
3. What are your thoughts on the new Indian Super League?
The Indian Super League will be a tournament running over a span of eight weeks. It is meant to promote the cause of football in the country with the help of renowned international stars, top domestic talents, celebrities and a key factor in entertainment. Indian football needed a new lifeline to raise the awareness of football in the country.
The ISL has already created a positive buzz in India and even around the world. Indian football is a big topic and more important it has turned into a big topic within India. But the most crucial work will start after the first ISL season. The knowledge and hype gained during the ISL needs to be transferred to the I-League, local leagues, academies and everything related to football in India.
The fate of Indian football doesn’t solely depend on the success of a competition like the ISL, but it’s a vital part of an overall process. The ISL is just a much needed impetus to get the public recognition and interest in a game, which is the most popular sport around the world. Indian football can only improve and reach the goals set, if there is a broad interest and support in the game in the very own country. Sometimes you need extraordinary solutions to reach your goals and to push things to the right direction.
The benefits for Indian football in general will be massive, if things are done properly. The ISL could be a door opener for a great future if we learn the lessons and use them to take Indian football forward.
4. What Super League team should be considered the favorite to win the title? What team could struggle?
It’s difficult to single out one team as the favorites. I think all the teams have done their best to build strong squads with the aim to win the first-ever ISL title. I think Mumbai City FC has most probably managed to assemble the best and well-balanced team, while Kerala Blasters FC, Atlético de Kolkata and Chennayin FC aren’t that bad too. I would also consider NorthEast United FC as a real contender with the support of their amazing fans.
David Trezeguet’s FC Pune City has disappointed me in their first match against Delhi Dynamos FC.
5. Who is the best player in the Super League? What player might have a breakout season to gain attention globally?
The ISL has attracted various renowned players like Alessandro Del Piero, Robert Pirès, Luis García, Elano, Freddie Ljungberg and David James. These international stars will be the ones everyone will be looking at. They might be over their prime, but they still have the class to make their presence felt. But I think the Indian players will be the ones to impress the most! They will perform much better due to the daily work with these experienced international players and they will be enthusiastic to show their talent at the big stage.
Indian star players like Subrata Pal, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, Denzil Franco, Francis Fernandes and company were indeed the most noticeable ones in the first matches. But I’m also looking forward to see the improvement by the young Indian players. They will gain a lot from the tournament.
6. How is the Super League supported in terms of development (academies?)? Is there a promotion/relegation system or feeder teams for younger players?
The ISL is not part of the regular league system. It’s just an eight week franchise tournament solely with the aim to promote Indian football and create a public buzz. So there is no relegation or promotion. But the ISL could be merged into the existing league system one day, if it turns out to be a success story. The ISL could become the 1st Division, while the I-League would be the 2nd Division.
The ISL has put up various rules for the teams to ensure that Indian football will get the much needed exposure and gain the maximum out of the tournament. Each ISL squad must include a marquee player – an international player with FIFA World Cup and/or continental championship experience, seven foreigners and 14 Indian players. Four players from the ten Indians must be local players from the city/region where the franchise team is based. Further each team must field a minimum of five Indian players at the same time in the league matches.
Grassroots development will be an issue the teams need to focus as part of the coming seasons.
7. Who are some Indian players that could make a splash outside of the country?
There are several talented players in India, but we need to be realistic and realize that none of the players will make it to the top league immediately. The players need to start in smaller leagues like the ones in the Scandinavian countries or second and third divisions in the countries like Germany, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, etc. Indian players will need some time to adapt to the new environment and culture, the training, the physicality and much more.
India U-23 national team keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has joined Norwegian side Stabæk recently. Indian national team captain Sunil Chhetri had stints in the U.S. with MLS side Sporting Kansas City and the second team of Sporting Clube de Portugal. Indian senior national team goalkeeper Subrata Pal spent six months with FC Vestsjælland in Denmark. Other players like Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh, Nirmal Chettri and Godwin Franco had trials in Europe.
I think there are also several talented youngsters coming through the ranks at the moment. The India U-16 national team is a talented batch and many of the players could be successful in Europe, if they are signed by the clubs within the next two years. These players would gain a lot from the professional training at youth level and it would be much easier for them to make it to the senior level in Europe. I think European clubs should consider to sign Indian youth players and to nurture them properly. It would benefit both sides as the club would have a talented Indian player in their ranks who wouldn’t face any difficulty to make it to the senior level, while Indian football would get quality players to strengthen the national team.
8. Who is the greatest Indian footballer in history?
That’s a good question! And a really tough one to answer… I don’t like it to judge players from the past who I’ve never seen playing. Many people will name you the likes of Sailen Manna, PK Bannerjee, Jarnail Singh, etc. who were instrumental in the successful 1950’s and 60’s when India was one of the best teams in Asia and almost featured in a FIFA World Cup.
I would name IM Vijayan as the best Indian player in history. Vijayan was a revelation to watch on the pitch. He was a super technician and a goal scoring machine for the Indian national team and his clubs. Most players of the present would also name Vijayan as their inspiration and hero.
But we also shouldn’t forget Baichung Bhutia in the list of the best Indian players in history. Baichung was the first professional Indian footballer to sign a contract with a European club and he has been the torchbearer and role model of Indian football for more than a decade. His contribution for Indian football can’t be appreciated enough.
9. What are you thoughts on Pratik Shinde, a player that recently plied his trade in the U.S.?
Pratik is a talented youngster and the ISL will be an excellent exposure for him as well as all the other young players at the various teams. He is one of the youngest players in the ISL and it will be tough for him to get much playing time. But I’m sure he will get a chance to display his talent during the inaugural season. It will be interesting to see him in action and where he stands in comparison to the others at the age level.
Chris Punnakkattu Daniel, a well-known sports media professional, is a German-based Indian origin football and nedia consultant with vast experience in both the football and media business.
He has been involved with a number of clubs and federations, becoming a key figure in the growth and recognition of Indian football. He organized a number of European trials for Indian players and led the 2014 India Tour of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. This is in addition to more than fifteen years of experience in sports media, including serving as the COO & Assistant Editor-in-Chief of IndianFootball.com.
