by Harmit Singh Kamboe

Can the IPL save Indian football?

To all those Indian football fans that fear the death of domestic football in the country due to the launch of Cricket's Indian Premier League, I would like to offer a few words of hope.
If the IPL has managed to beat out the TV ratings of the Saas Bahu and other pathetic and mediocre TV serials and soaps as per the latest TV ratings, it shows the victory of the young, confident and resurgent India over a has been, lethargic form of thinking that has led the nation for much of the post Independence era.
Everything about the IPL is young, dynamic, go getting and unapologetic. Everything about the way Indian football has been organized so far has been down market, characterized by a poverty of ideas and a complete absence of innovation. And the results are there for every one to see.

However, after not following through with Lalit Modi's proposals of having a city based football league (true or not, as reported in the media) the administrators of Indian football have a chance to redeem themselves. It is fortunate that the AFC too is leaning on the AIFF and as part of the AFC Pro League guidelines has asked for the I-League to be conducted by an entity other than the AIFF.

Professional management is now badly needed. The people of urban India have seen what well organized events are like, both in person and on TV. We must rationally ask ourselves, why would any one want to watch a domestic football game, if there are no personalities, the stands are empty and the game is not being played under floodlights.

The IPL is doing Indian football a huge favour:

1. It is building massive know how and a talent pool of event managers that can be used by other sports.

2. It is putting money in the hands of stadiums which would otherwise continue to be shabby and lie unused for majority of the year. During the winter months some of them could be used as viewer friendly venues for the I-League.

3. And most of all, it is getting Indian sports fans in the habit of going to a live sporting event.

With the IPL being just a 40 odd day carnival, a well organized and marketed I-League (in that order) will go a long way in reviving domestic Indian football. If India's football administrators do not get their act together this time and set Indian football free, Indian football could also join Indian hockey as far as today's consumers are concerned.