I might get into trouble with a few of my friends after they read this. But it's nowhere close to revealing much worse, so they better tolerate.
Last week, the Mahindra management decided to shift focus from professional football to developing the game at the grassroots level. This move meant that their club team, Mahindra United would be disbanded and won't play in the I-league next year onwards.
One could see lots of anguish and despair over this news for many fans, players, ex-players, journalists etc. The football authorities are feeling the heat with attacks from all corners. Reams have been written about the team's illustrious history and how everything had come to an end. A few players have even acknowledged that their stint at the club helped them make the cut for the national team.
I just have one concern. Are Mumbaikars, Delhiites, Bangaloreans et all really football fans? I mean football, not Manchester United.
There are enough and more people who throng Sports Bar during a Man United and Liverpool clash, rush to make reservations at the tiny Man U Cafe and some even leave office early to make sure they see the first kick. Nike too would definitely be happy with the increase in the number of jerseys being sold in India. And I have seen Ronaldo on desktops of more people than I can count on my fingers.
But how many people go to a stadium to watch football in Mumbai? One second, do they know where the stadium is? Do they know the names of the domestic leagues/competitions? And how many can mention two current Indian footballers without mentioning Bhaichung Bhutia twice?
For those who would attribute all of the above to shoddy marketing by the football authorities, here is another question: How come most of these fans don't play football?
Now I understand that there can be instances where one can be a fan without really playing that particular sport. But here, I feel its a really large chunk which doesn't kick. And that's odd for a mass game like football which doesn't need a racing track and one doesn't even need to get KO'd. Forget playing, most of these guys don't even have a football at home.
You will see a stark difference in the crowd at a pub when a football match is being screened and when there is a cricket match. During a football match, most of the crowd will scream their guts out when there is a goal, free kick, penalty etc. The rest of the time, they will try and empty their pitcher. That's pretty much how involved they are with the game.
Try listening to a conversation at a table when a cricket match is screened. Apart from all the cheering for the boundaries and the wickets, each person will be talking to the other as if he should have been the captain of the Indian team and why this bowler shouldn't have bowled and why this batsman should come have higher in the order.
I guess this 'wisdom' of knowing better comes from the fact that most of them played cricket just the other day. And have done so for most part of their lives.
Anand Mahindra tweeted," So many Mumbai voices...never heard them when we needed their attendance and support at matches."
Whoever is in charge of and is interested in building a fan base for football in India, should concentrate primarily on getting more people to actually play. Be it on grounds, farmhouses (there are small leagues organized in Delhi) wherever possible. There are enough who already know about the game, watch it and even wear a jersey to bed.
Nothing will benefit the sport more than fans playing the sport.
It's similar to getting the educated out of their houses to come and vote. If not, they remain fake football fans.
Photograph: Satish Bodas
