Indian football scores a new goal... in cyberspace

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) A cyber venture on Indian football started by enthusiasts has notched impressive hits - crossing the 400,000 mark.
IndianFootball.Com, run by Germany-based Arunava Chaudhuri, brings to visitors the latest on Indian football.
The site, launched in April 1998, recorded 100,000 visitors in May 2002. It touched the 200,000 mark 14 months later, and the 300,000 milestone in March 2004.
Chaudhuri told IANS: "Our team has grown to be seven-member strong to bring the latest on Indian football -- scores and news.
"From start until today, IndianFootball.Com is the only site which tries to look at as many aspects as possible of Indian football, which are quitediversified, and are getting more so as the game progresses in India," said Chaudhuri.
The volunteer-team behind the site said it was working to make it "more informative and attractive".
It has launched a partnership with the English football associations to offer an online learning qualification -- Psychology for Soccer Level 1 -- to anyone in any part of the world
"This pioneering project is the first of its kind to be provided by any football governing body and is available to anyone with access to the Internet," said Chaudhuri. "All one needs is an interest in learning more on the subject and an email address."
This site, edited jointly by Chaudhuri and Chris P. Daniel, is also offering an "Indian view" of the 2006 world cup in Germany, even if the Indian team fail to qualify. It offers news and views on the Indian team selection.
Earlier this year, IndianFootball.Com held a contest on the most popular Indian soccer players and teams. Voting via cyberspace took place for the best 'player of the year', 'best foreign player', 'rookie' (newcomer), best coach, and the 'team of the year'.
"It is not always easy to run IndianFootball.Com sitting in Germany but it is fun for us as real Indian football fans and we enjoy our work," Arunava Chaudhuri said.