Win some, win all

A major win for Indian football is so rare and so priceless that in celebrating India8217;s victory over Syria to clinch the Nehru Cup one could easily miss an allied spectacle. It was the sight of animated spectators packing the stands in Delhi8217;s Ambedkar Stadium. As much as the hope that an upswing is visible in the performance of Indian footballers, one must understand the importance of keeping the fan interested. This is because football 8212; as it has grown and now been globalised 8212; operates on a very intimate relationship between fan and team/sportsperson. The point is not to denigrate the cricket fan. But this lovely moment for India in the beautiful game is too tempting a pretext to undertake comparisons and hope that football8217;s tipping point is on the anvil.

In team sports, football8217;s uniqueness is evident. Compare it to hockey, to baseball, to cricket, to American football, to lacrosse. Football is the only sport whose mass appeal is in excess of the pools of talent that sustain it on the field of play. Indians who may have never been within sighting distance of a goalpost are consumed by the questions of racism and strategy that wrack, for instance, the final of the World Cup. Southeast Asians who may be resigned to the non-appearance of a local hero on football8217;s premier leagues nonetheless construct temples to icons like David Beckham. So when there8217;s the prospect of a keenly contested game at a local venue, one can be certain of filling the stands. Thereafter it is a lovely procession of fallouts. Victory produces its heroes 8212; on Wednesday night there was the goal-scorer N.P. Pradeep. Heroes interest spectators at their club grounds. The turnstiles ensure enough revenue for more low-key matches. Taken together, all this expands the talent pool.

To clinch it for the football fan, consider this. Leading cricket teams are known by the special skills the players bring 8212; India8217;s wristiness, Pakistan8217;s fast-bowling, Australia8217;s grit. Football teams are known by the temperament of their fans 8212; the emotional Brazilians, the boorish English. This is why when Germany hosted the World Cup it was the spectators8217; behaviour that announced a post-unification harmony, not necessarily the composition of the team.