The Upcoming 11th National Football League

The most important event in the Indian Football calendar begins during the beginning of the New Year with the 11th edition of the National Football League. After the completion of the major tournaments throughout the country the teams are geared up to fight for the Champion Club of the country. All the teams had got a chance to gauge their performance by playing in the Durand Cup, IFA Shield and the Federation Cup. No team can be considered strong favorites to lift the National League title. Going by the performance in the recent tournaments we find that Dempo SC (Durand Cup), Mahindra United (IFA Shield) and Mohun Bagan (Federation Cup) were successful in one tournament and failed to keep up the consistency in the next and thereby proving that the National Football League is wide open for any body to claim. The National Football League being a 10 team event where teams will be pitted against each other on a home-and-away basis will be a closely fought tournament.

On paper Mohun Bagan now look the hot favourites with having the best strike force in the country in the two B's - Baichung and Barreto. Any teams climb to success is when they win matches and for this you require to score goals and mind you these two have been doing it with regular consistency. This will be a plus point for Mohun Bagan when they begin their campaign against Bangalore's HAL. The other teams will also depend on their foreigners to get them their goals MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi (Sporting Clube de Goa), Ranty Martins Soleye (Dempo), Yakubu Yusif (Mahindra United), Odafe Onyeka Okolie (Churchill) and Chidi Edeh (JCT) which they have been doing in all the editions of the NFL.

This edition will not only see teams vying for the top spots but also bottom ranked teams fighting to survive in the National League. The new promotes to this years league Churchill Brothers and HAL have a lot at stake. Churchill Brothers have somehow strengthened their team and look like they will create many upsets going by their performance in the Federation Cup. It is a pity that HAL will have to fend for themselves when they will face the top teams in India. HAL's entry into the National League was confirmed very late only when TFA withdrew and HAL being the next best team was given a chance. The Federation Cup match against Dempo SC was the only competitive match HAL had during this season before they embark to play in the National League. A team requires sufficient time and competitive matches to prepare their team for a major outing. What with the Bangalore District FA failing to conduct the Local league for this season, it has deprived HAL to gain their confidence to play in tougher competition. The football followers in this IT city are hoping against hope that HAL will try to remain in the National League for the next edition. The once famous teams in Bangalore football - ITI, CIL, LRDE, etc - have lost its place in the Indian football scenario and HAL is the only team which can bring back club level football to Bangalore and for this to happen they will have to do exceedingly well in this edition of the National League. If HAL fails to remain in the NFL then we may as well sing adieu to club level football in Bangalore; for it will be very difficult for any team in the near future to come back to the National League from Bangalore.

One aspect which is glaringly visible is the inept referring by the persons who control the game in the middle. There have been numerous blunders committed by the referees which is unnecessarily provoking players to take law into their hands. We have seen more of kicking, hacking and violent fights by players in the middle which will have to be dealt firmly with a strong hand if we have to see some clean, good and skillful game of football.

With the rankings of India slipping to 157 it is very important to see that at least this National League throws some promising players and identify good strikers who will get goals for the country in international fixtures. This may also be the last edition of the National League with the Federation contemplating to start the Pro League from next year for the betterment of Indian football.