Wake up, India

SPORTS

Football needs to be nurtured at the grassroots to finally improve at the highest level.

Football and India just don't go hand in hand, or rather, foot in foot. Languishing at 165 in FIFA's world ranking, behind countries like Togo, Ivory Coast, Azerbaijan, Indian football has seen a lot of bad times. India is ranked 34th even among Asian teams.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter was in the country recently and termed India a "sleeping giant" in the world of football. He launched a project called "Win In India With India" and underlined a strategy for the development of the game.

The timeline of the project is supposed to be four years under which the first year would be for improving the professional league, the second for grassroots development, the third for club competitions, and then, finally, trying to figure out and overcome the shortcomings with regard to FIFA and AFC.

The plan might look concrete on paper but it would be tough to translate on the field. India has never had a rich history and tradition of football and experts believe that in comparison to other Asian countries, fitness levels of Indian players are extremely poor. Lack of proper facilities have meant attracting Brazilian and other countries' rejects to ply their trade in the domestic leagues.

Blatter's point is that development must begin from the bottom just like a pyramid. India needs to develop the game at the grassroots. The idea, great as it might be, has not taken off too well in the country.

The total market for football is much bigger than one might fathom, standing close to a whopping Rs 250 crore, which, considering the standard of football in India, is extraordinary.

Nike might have a seven year contract with AIFF to provide merchandise to Indian clubs, but the game is still struggling "" prize money remains a big factor and the amount of money players get is comparatively low.

Blatter hit the nail on its head when he said that he is not here to challenge cricket's supremacy but "to campaign for football. It is the fascination of this game that attracts people all over the world." Will the sleeping giant wake up and get as fascinated with football as the rest of the world?