DEC 21: The fifth edition of the National League is underway, following an understanding reached between Indian Premier Football Association (IPFA) and All India Football Federation (AIFF) over payments to players. But few experts are optimistic that the agreement reached between them would instil new life into the game.``Leave it to time,''says P K Banerjee, a top former soccer player. ``The world football regulating body FIFA has asked us to experiment the League for five years before turning the game into professionalism, which is not that easy. Because a lot of things have to be done like insurance for every player, facilities for ground and dressing room and physiotherapy including sauna bath,''As Banerjeee has pointed out, FIFA's fact- finding team had suggested in 1996 that AIFF should set up a professional management group to organise a National Football League (NFL).For four years now AIFF has been organising the National League in a bid to instil professionalism to the game.Things came to a difficult pass when IPFA, led by liqour baron Vijay Mallya, complained that clubs and their sponsors were not getting enough returns. They demanded more money from AIFF and threatened non-participation by noted clubs in the League. AIFF has now agreed to give 80 per cent of the total surplus revenue from NFL to the clubs.Soccer pundits are unanimous that if player's needs are not met, professionalism in the country will remain a far cry.That requires a lot of money, says Banerjee, ``and most ofthe Indian clubs are running with the Financial assistance of their members.'' The League on the other hand, is dependent on sponsor money and players don't have to look for other sources to earn a living.The substantial prize money offered in the League is expected to egg on the players to come up with greater effort which would improve the quality of the game.Quite often India slips a rung or two below in the yearly ranking list of the FIFA. Players cannot be blamed for this as they have umpteen problems to worry about.No other person knows this better than East Bengal coach Syed Naimmuddin, who has been struggling to see his players take the field without any distraction.``If there is no looking back in the organising of League for the next four years and player's worry about jobs are wiped out by way of spending more money on them, the League will definitely throw up pros, helping India's ascent on the world soccer map,'' says Naimuddin.The East Bengal coach, who is happy over the progress of the League, says there is every scope to put India back in the elite bracket if the players are properly nourished. He cites the examples of how Japan and Thailand enjoy in nourishing their players, ``because they know where success lies.''Mohun Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharjee agrees, ``there should be a proper infrastructure in the country to improve our talent, and players should get more incentives and money in order to keep their morale high.''Bhattacharjee says it is too soon to forecast the outcome as the introduction of League system to Indian football is just four years old. ``To make players out and out professionals we should continue with the present National League and in the long run it can put India in a bigger League.''The Mohun Bagan coach is also critical of spending money on sub-standard foreign players. ``If at all we have to spend, why not spend a little more and get better foreigners who can help lift our players' performance?,''he asks.The coaches of the traditional football clubs are critical of the condition of the fields where one can hardly find a proper grass-cutter or ground-roller.``I always have a nagging fear of my players suffering injuries on these poor grounds,'' says Naimmuddin, while Bhattacharjee suggests ``proper infrastructure will improve player's talent and teams should practise on their own fields.''Naimmudin also asks the players to become more lively and play positive soccer to raise their standard.It is possible, with FIFA's suggestions, according to which the League should feature 12 teams, selected on the basis of their performance in the domestic League and National tournaments. The two teams who finish last would be relegated and replaced by two other teams in the next edition of the League. The two-leg League is played on home-and-away basis to attract spectators interest.Tollygunge coach Amal Dutta, however, alleges that only two or three teams are benefitting from the League. ``The administration should see each team benefitting from the League,'' he says.``If, the League continues in abled hands then in the next two or three seasons we may find results. But as of now the administration is a bit slack. A few more things have to be done for the benefit of the players.''He also says a team from each state should be included inthe League. ``Unless every state sends a team, the game is not going to be promoted,'' Dutta warns.It was a welcome relief when the tug-of-war between AIFF and IPFA for over a week ended amicably. But, whatever, be the outcome of the solution, Indian football needs comprehensive changes to make its name known in the international arena.
