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

Voice your views

India in FIFA 2010?

ALL FOR A GOAL Germany's Lukas Podolski and Argentina's Gabriel Heinze in the quarterfinal of FIFA

Popularise the game

Given the existing standards in the skill and stamina fronts (two key ingredients for success in football), it is difficult to foresee the Indian football team qualifying for FIFA 2010. Despite some welcome measures, of late, by the authorities like appointment of a new foreign coach, earnest efforts to popularise the game through television channel throughout the country to attract more talent, only a podium finish in the upcoming 2006 Asian Games can validate the progress of Indian football. Since any progress can only be in a phased manner, only a decent showing in the Doha games would act as a spur for qualification in 2010 Soccer WC.

SURESH MANOHARAN, SANJEEVA REDDY NAGAR

Be optimistic

The Indian team will definitely the qualify for World Cup 2010. We have enthusiastic and talented determined youth, but lack positive mindset that is absolutely essential. They need motivation, facilities, training and, at times, solace in the hour of need. Keep off filthy politics, despotism, favouritism that brought the downfall of once world's best Indian Hockey. Multinational and public sector companies through sponsorships can render yeomen services.

In 1960's Indian Football dominated Asia. But today except traces of East Bengal, Mohan Bagan, good teams like A.P. Police, Dempos - Goa, JTC Phagwara have slowly fallen. .

Conduct nationwide hunt for talented street children who really need a crusader. Identify talented youth from the coastal belts, tribal areas and desert regions, stamina and lungpowers is enormous. Draw inspiration from tiny countries like Trinidad and Togo. We will not only qualify for FIFA-2010 but we can give a tough time to many international teams.

P. VARAPRASADA RAO,
YELAREDDYGUDA

Plan ahead

I think it is difficult for India to make it to football World Cup 2010. We should have started working towards that quite sometime back. Four years is too less a time to convert a mediocre team to a great one. This is not to say that we don't have talented youngsters, but that we have a long way before we reach international standard. Countries that have made it to the top have not reached there so easily either. Our boys lack the kind of aggression or passion that countries abroad have. Infrastructure is on thing, having the fervour is another. Look at the football playing African countries; what kind of facilities do they have to offer to their players? But we do have the capability and to make it to the top, it needs to come from the heart.

SRINIVASAN J
MALKAJGIRI

Morale boosters

India has all it takes to enter FIFA World Cup 2010. We have the talent, but our boys need a lot of morale boosting. The government needs to divert its attention away from cricket and work towards developing other games as well. Lack of funds and prospects is taking many talented youngsters away from the game. We also need to develop better gaming strategies for our football team. But I feel, more than looking at World Cup as the aim, it is important to make the game stronger and popular within the country first.

RAJESH REDDY
KUKATPALLY

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