ZURICH: FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter starts his three-day visit to India on April 15 and he arrives with a lot of expectations. He believes that the football in the country has gone into hibernation for too long and the time to change and move ahead has come.

With the national league functioning well and corporates willing to put up the money, Mr. Blatter is of the opinion that the setting is perfect for India to make up for the years lost.

"When we focussed on the sub-continent with over two-thirds of the world's population for football development some time ago, we thought of China and India. India has failed to burst out in the sport. There is talent and there is a football culture there," says the FIFA chief, adding that only proper re-organisation is necessary.

Interacting with a group of journalists from India at his headquarters here, Mr. Blatter says he was no prophet to predict where Indian football would go but expresses hope that this delegation's visit would enable the world body to get a feel for the football in India.

Significant meetings

Mr. Blatter is scheduled to watch a match between traditional rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in Kolkata, apart from meeting the President and Prime Minister, among others, in New Delhi. A key meeting with corporate heads is also on the cards.

He may not be able to immediately come up with the names of the top clubs in India or names of popular footballers of the country but Mr. Blatter does show a genuine interest in the history of Indian football and a will to do something for it.

This would be his third visit, having visited Chennai and Bangalore in late seventies and New Delhi for the Asian Games in 1982.

Soon to get re-elected for his third term as FIFA President, Mr. Blatter says he is keen that, should Indian football make rapid strides in the years to come, he should be remembered for having had a hand in that.

That he has a soft corner for India is reflected in his eagerness to see India rise when smaller countries like Tajikistan (which recently qualified for the next edition of the under-17 World Cup in Korea) could do so. He also expresses readiness to have some world championship fixtures allotted to India if the country was prepared with the infrastructure and organisational ability.

To the Indian fans, he has this message: "Please believe in the good of football. It is both education and entertainment. It is also a school of life."

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