The Hindu : Sport : Sepp Blatter hopes to awaken `sleeping giant'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 16, 2007
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Sepp Blatter hopes to awaken `sleeping giant'

Principal Correspondent

Joseph Blatter. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

KOLKATA : FIFA President Joseph Blatter called for reforms and greater professionalism in Indian football. On his first official visit to the country, Mr. Blatter wished his presence will spark off the reconstruction process that would animate the "sleeping giant" — the euphemism he uses to term the humble status of Indian football in the world order.

His trip to the city on Sunday came up as a lighter prelude to the serious administrative and financial assignments relating to the long-term development plans that will keep him busy in Delhi on Monday and Tuesday.

Overwhelmed

"I am overwhelmed to find that two of the three clubs I have visited here are older than the world body I represent,'' Blatter said after visiting Mohammedan Sporting (established in 1891), which came last in the three-club tour scheduled in the morning. FIFA was founded in 1904.

With his trip coinciding with the Bengali New Year's day, Mr. Blatter hoped the auspicious day will have its bearing on his "strategic mission.''

The FIFA president, accompanied by the Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam and All India Football Federation president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, visited Mohun Bagan (established in 1889) first.

Historic event

Mohun Bagan, the first Indian club to defeat a British outfit in 1911 an IFA Shield match, conferred an honorary life membership on Mr. Blatter and also presented him a silver replica of the club's emblem. The FIFA president planted a sapling before presenting a commemorative FIFA souvenir to the club. "Thank you for receiving me with open arms. It feels so good to be with so many friends," Blatter said.

In his next stop at East Bengal (established in 1920), the club presented him with sweets, mementoes and a special photograph clicked during East Bengal's DCM triumph in 1950 that had three generations of Indian Prime Ministers — Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi — together.

Very special

The AFC president, who is also the chairman of the FIFA Goal project, said, "Mr. Blatter's visit is very special. I hope this visit marks the beginning of real football in India."

The bonhomie of the emotional trip was shattered a bit as the FIFA president was paying tributes to the statue of the legendary footballer Gostho Paul. As the president prepared to go through the rituals, a temporary stand erected for the photographers came down unable to bear the load with too many people on it. However, no one was hurt seriously.

More felicitations followed later in the day before Mr. Blatter went on to have a first-hand experience of the traditional rivalry between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in the evening. Mr. Blatter went round the giant Salt Lake Stadium on an open jeep accompanied by the East Bengal skipper Alvito D'Cunha, Mohun Bagan captain Brazilian Jose Rameirez Barreto and the Indian captain Baichug Bhutia.

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