Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

All in the game

African players could challenge the best European and South American teams soon

JOYS UNBOUND Ghana's win against Czech Republic came as a surprise

While Hyderabad has not been affected by football fever to the same extent as some other cities in the country, there are, nevertheless, a few die-hard fans who are following the football fiesta in Germany with a keen eye.

A few years ago, amongst the more knowledgeable followers of the game were a handful of former Indian players. But even their numbers have dwindled as many have passed away. Moreover, the standard of football in the state has taken a nosedive in the last decade and the state no longer produces international level players like it used to do in the past.

But one person whose comments carry weightage is Victor Amalraj. The former international player, who has many years of experience in the game, thinks teams from Africa will be the ones to watch out for in future world football. "While playing for clubs in Kolkata, I have played against and alongside some African players such as Emeka Ezuego, Cheema Okorie, Chibuzor and Christopher. I can tell you that these Africans pack a lot of stamina and physical prowess into their game. They are extremely agile and have very sharp reflexes. Inside a crowded box, there is nobody more dangerous than their centre forwards," he says.

"With more training and scientific guidance from world's top professional coaches, these basic advantages that African players possess can be fine tuned to even outshine the European and South American stars, who rule the roost at present in world football," he says.

Among the others, his favourites are Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Ronaldinho of Brazil and Argentina's Lionel Messi, who are not only talented but also young. Aand since football is increasingly getting to be very physically demanding, the young and talented players will outshine the experienced but older ones, he feels.

But Brazil, which is the hot favourite worldwide, is not on Amalraj's list of favourites. Talking about the world cup, he argues that Brazil has not won on the European soil earlier and sees no special reason why it will do so this time. According to him, local support makes a lot of difference and the European teams have an advantage in this respect.

"Brazil will be under pressure and three of their key players, namely, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Cafu are not as youthful as they used to be," says Amalraj.

As Pele once said, the Europeans play with their minds and the South Americans with their hearts. This time, I feel that those who play with their minds will win the Cup."

ABHIJIT SEN GUPTA

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail