New horizons, high hopes, the game goes on

New Delhi, Dec 12: Coach Amal Dutta spent the afternoon before the inaugural match of the second Philips National League reading up on foot...

New Delhi, Dec 12: Coach Amal Dutta spent the afternoon before the inaugural match of the second Philips National League reading up on football tactics. “What is worked out on blackboards remain there,” scoffs his counterpart Sukhvinder Singh almost at the same time, in a dingy and cold Old Delhi hotel room. The hype is building up and Indian football is in for another high as last year’s winner JCT (Phagwara) and runners-up Dutta’s Churchill Brothers kick off tomorrow.

More money, more teams and more matches is the catchword this time as the revolutionary idea settles down to a significant, if permanent, slot just a year after its birth. And, the players, like last year, will have much more than just memories to take back home; music systems, colour televisions, cellphones, and of course, a total prize money of Rs 1.7 crore.

But scratch the surface and you realise that there is much more to the league than just the bottom line. For starters, the success and publicity generated by the inaugural league has played a major role in inspiring a group of NRIs to form the country’s first professional club, FC Kochin. And, quite ironcially, the club is one of the title favourites this time after being given a direct entry on the basis of their performances this year. Now, at least two more professional outfits are expected to roll out by this year end.

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Undoubtedly, the league has a played a key role in sidelining Calcutta teams even as Goa, Mumbai and, of course, Kerala grabbed the limelight. Proof of it came in the first edition when just one Calcutta side, East Bengal, managed to qualify for the eight-team league. This time, Mohun Bagan is in as a direct entrant. Calcutta had the money, the culture and, subsequently, the star status accorded to the game and the players. But with the league assuming the kind of image it has, there is nothing Calcutta can offer what clubs from, say Goa or Kerala, cannot.

In fact, the Goans have added their lovely beaches and a racy lifestyle as part of the package offered to interested players this time. FC Kochin, on the other hand, has cashed in on their huge bank balance to get the best in their rolls. Now, in a desperate bid to keep up with the rest, East Bengal, apparently, borrowed money to get Bhaichung Bhutia back in their fold..

Take tomorrow’s match for example. Coach Amal Dutta joined Churchill Brothers just five days back after being sacked by Mohun Bagan; the charge? Striking a deal with the Goans to fix a match between Bagan and Churchill during last month’s Rovers Cup. Dutta though, has to make the Goans adapt to his famous all-out attack system, called the Diamond.’