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IndianFootball.Com Interview: UTPAL KUMAR GANGULI
Dear Utpalda first of all, our heartiest congratulations and best wishes upon your appointment! You have an interesting, but also tough task ahead of you.
Initially for three years i.e. 2001/2002,to 2003/2004 ,for the first two years as a member of the governing body and the last year as vice president, I served as the Chairman of the finance sub-committee and for 2 years i.e. 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 as one of the vice presidents.
Could you please tell us about the impact on the IFA of the passing away of your former president Aditya Kashyap?
The passing away of Aditya Kashyap who was a very close personal friend, is a major blow for IFA and we will all miss his great love for the game and commitment to contribute towards its revival.
The name Aditya Kashyap was always linked to the Tata Super Soccer Series. He was one of the master minds behind this and it was only revived this year. Will the Super Soccer Series continue?
The amount of effort that Aditya put in to revive Super Soccer was amazing and we certainly will continue with this event
How do you see the state of football in Bengal today? Do you agree with some football pundits that the centre of gravity of Indian football is moving westwards towards Goa and Mumbai?
I think the state of football in Bengal needs a huge improvement and I am sure that is possible. I feel all aspects of the game which include infrastructure, coaching, referring and ground condition, need urgent improvement and I am sure football in Bengal will regain all its popularity and glory within not too distant future. I am sure with such improvement Bengal will regain its position in Indian football
Please tell us about your vision for development of football in Bengal? What are some of the major initiatives on the horizon?
While it is too early to set out my complete agenda but as a general policy I wish to devote a lot of attention and fund towards development of football at lower level and towards improvement of facilities. I also will devote high level of attention/fund towards development of referees and coaching
What specific programs are being planned to ensure that young children across Bengal get better access to football coaching so that the golden age of football in Bengal can be revived?
I think I have answered the question while answering the previous question. I sincerely hope that I can see the revival of what you refer as the golden age of Bengal football
One of the biggest problems of football in Calcutta and across Bengal is the lack of necessary infrastructure. Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter in his recent visit to Calcutta pointed that out. How are you going to address this problem?
I totally agree with that and as mentioned earlier will give lot of effort in correcting the position
Do you have any plans to professionalise the running of the IFA? Any plans to shift the IFA office to a bigger and more modern building somewhere else in Calcutta?
Please tell us your thoughts on the issue of the AIFF thinking along the lines of the NFL teams not being allowed to field their frontline players in the state leagues? Has this issue been resolved?
The issue has not yet been resolved and I will like to comment on this a little latter and after I have a chance of discussing the matter with all relevant parties.
What would happen if in future the AIFF has its way and no Pro League side would play in your local Calcutta Premier League? What impact would it have on the IFA and Bengal football?
This will have a major impact but as said earlier I will like to give my comments after I have discussed the matter with all concerned.
Often football in Calcutta and Bengal is about East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting. You know about this problem, you yourself are Chirag United SC president. Are you going to address this problem to give rising clubs a chance?
100%. While these three clubs have made and continues to make major contribution towards popularising football but development of football in Bengal will not be possible if other clubs are ignored. All clubs in Bengal as well as the districts, schools and colleges will get substantial support from IFA of course within IFA's means.
Could you please tell us about the outcome of the investigation into the fire and the fraud that had occurred at the IFA?
The investigation is still going on
Could you please outline a few things that in your opinion are structurally wrong with India and Indian football, that are holding us back from being even an average or mediocre footballing nation?
To start with I think we need to introduce professional football to created lucrative career prospects to attract talent. Secondly the game has remained virtually metro centric thereby missing out on the vast pool of talent in the non-metro areas. Thirdly I think the game has remained popular only in few states and not pan-India. Fourthly the game has been dominated by few clubs only and the associations have failed to support development of other clubs.
What are your thoughts on IndianFootball.Com and its work?
I think IndianFootball.Com is doing a tremendous work in promoting and popularising Indian football outside India! I am a regular reader of your web-site and look forward to interacting closely with you during my tenure in IFA.
Many thanks for granting us this interview and we along with millions of Indian football fans wish you well!
[ IndianFootball.Com interviews ] © IndianFootball.Com 2007
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Utpal Kumar Ganguli has taken over as the new Indian Football Association's honorary secretary, which is the governing body of football in West Bengal.
I have not thought of shifting of IFA to any other office but certainly thought of building an exclusive stadium with office facility for IFA. I feel IFA should ultimately be run by professionals but before making any changes I feel many other issues which included financial position need to be considered