NFL loses it main sponsor

Vellappan, however, was hopeful that the newest entry in Asia’s growing professional family will sustain encouraging signs that the inaugural League has provided. He said: “Mr Dasmunshi assured me that a new sponsor will be found in time for the League later this year.”

Vellappan has long been an admirer of Indian soccer and in the presence of renowned Indian coach and former International P K Banerjee, drew fond memories of the Asian giant’s glittering show in the 50s and early 60s.But the man who plots the future of Asian soccer into the new millennium discerns a reason for India’s gross under-achievement since their heady days of the Melbourne Olympics. He said: “The basic problem with your country is that it lacks leadership. You may be the largest democratic county in the world, but there is little or no interest in developing soccer democratically. Power lies in the hands of a few individuals and a couple of clubs who claim to have full rights to the sport in the country.”

Vellappan went on to elaborate: “I was very glad that Calcutta teams East Bengal and Mohan Bagan fell from the top in the National League. It is an indication that there are other worthy clubs in India who do play an equally important part in the country’s football destiny.”

Citing China as an example, Vellappan clearly felt that India, with close on a billion people, can do much better than the lowly 120 FIFA ranking they hold presently.

Acknowledging India’s contribution to the growth of Malaysian soccer by the presence of their commendable teams in the past, at the prestigious Merdeka tournaments, he lamented that the team from the sub-continent does not prove worthy of invitation at the present moment.

“That is a tragedy. But the greater tragedy is the limitations in organisation and administration that sees soccer in India as poor competition to cricket,” Vellappan added.

“Which is why I have persuaded Dasmunshi to improve the organisation in India in an attempt to take the game to the masses.”

The seminar, graced by legendary Brazilian Pele, attended by delegates and journalists from several Asian nations, did not include any AIFF official food for thought, viewing India’s pathetic fortunes at international level.The only representatives from India’s soccer fraternity at the seminar were coaches of National League sides Bimal Ghosh (Air-India) and P K Banerjee (East Bengal).