http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IES20050611091103&Page=S&Title=Sports&Topic=0
Talent, not nationality, more important
Sunday June 12 2005 00:00 IST
BANGALORE: The All India Football Federation's executive committee,
whether under pressure or not, has shown some foresight in permitting
clubs to enlist and field foreign players. It is to be three in the
National Football League and two in other tournaments and domestic
leagues.
A discussion on this subject wasn't necessary at all and the AIFF could
well have focused its attention on more practical issues.
After all, football is all about talent, not nationality.
Even in the 40s and 50s, players from 'outside' turned out for clubs in
Calcutta. Bengal football has been the biggest beneficiary in allowing
talented stars to come and play for them on the Maidan.
This is something that was restricted to Calcutta only because private
clubs were in the forefront like nowhere else. Institutional teams from
the government sector were not permitted to rope in foreign players. Those
in the private sector were restrained by reasons of the purse.
But since the inception of the NFL in 1996-97, the Bengal scenario has
been duplicated in Goa, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra
as clubs from these states which figure in the NFL now have better
purchasing power and all institutions, including those in the government
sector like ITI, HAL or Indian Bank, have made provisions in there rules
to sign foreign players if only to puff up their talent and perform better
in the NFL and other tournaments.
Sport, especially soccer, is a visual delight. The need to entertain
supporters with better talent drives clubs to rope in foreigners. They do
plan to win major trophies too, no doubt. The more the money, the better
the player.
Even if good local talent is available, there is no harm in bringing in a
better player from another state or country. This is a universal
phenomenon.
Despite the best of footballers available, clubs in every continent are
known to scan the globe for better or matching ones. What better example
than Brazil?
As per FIFA's statistics, more than 800 Brazilians are playing soccer for
different clubs in the world.
For a nation which has won the World Cup for an unprecedented five times,
Brazilian clubs themselves sign foreign players from Argentina, Peru,
Bolivian, Paraguay, Mexico.
Even Brazilians haven't imposed restrictions on clubs in this regard. How
can and why should India?
Real Madrid is a virtual World XI. Imagine Spain bringing in such
restrictions. Despite Zidane (France), Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos
(Brazil), David Beckham and Micheal Owen (England), Luis Figo (Portugal)
and a few others too, Real Mardid is led by a Spaniard in Raul Gonzalez.
Then again, Iker Casillas is the goalkeeper. Fernando Heirro played an
important role for years too.
Local talent isn't ignored but supported. So too are clubs in England,
Italy or Germany and Japan.
The presence of a Ranty Martins or a Dudu Omagbemi must inspire Indians to
perform better. Trophies apart, that is the most important aspect of
having better players to come and play.
The former Mohun Bagan winger and India Juniors' coach Mridul Banerjee put
it very aptly. "It is not a question of allowing a foreigner or not. It is
a question of bringing in the right foreigner that must be addressed.
Clubs sign on foreign players only because of their physique. If our boys
can have the same physique, they will be as good as many foreigners," said
Mridul.
"Clubs must pay more attention to the quality of the player they are
bringing in. A good player costs more. But even with the money they are
now paying, they can surely get players of better class. When players of
the class of a Baretto or the late Junior are there, these arguments will
never come up," he added.
In any case, the AIFF has permitted clubs to sign and play foreigners.
It's over to the clubs now.
