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Write Articles
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Football Frenzy
Football fever
has gripped the whole nation. World cup has infused a breath of
fresh air in a sport which was on the verge of oblivion ( especially in
the metros).
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News
channels are flooded with reports of never dying passion for the game from
every nook & corner of the country, let alone Bengal. The sport transcends
caste, creed and transports everyone to a place where passion for the game
is the only religion.
The big IT &
BPO companies have almost come to a stand-still with some resorting to
desperate measures like installing screens in offices to giving
incentives for not taking a holiday. In schools, children love playing
football (it was the only time I had fun in school), running around
emulating the Beckhams and Ronaldinhos, sweating it out, and unknowingly
develop qualities like sportsmanship, camaraderie which are imperative to
succeed in this competitive world.
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But from class
10th onwards the pressure of boards and parents expectations don't leave
any time for a sport which requires 11 friends (or at least 5 or 6) and a
playground which has become a rarity especially in metros due to
sky-rocketing real estate prices, no builder/contractor wants to leave a
stretch of land unfortified. And those that are there in some societies
have been manicured and beautified ,& now transformed to yoga centers or
meeting joint for the elders.
This is one of
prime reasons for the children becoming lethargic, obese which leads to
feelings of depression culminating into suicidal tendencies.
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Football as
a sport has tremendous commercial possibilities (Man. United is one
the richest sports body) as it is a fast paced sport unlike cricket. But,
cricketers still, rake in all the moolah and are worshipped as demi-gods
because corporates don't want to jinx their tried and tested formula of
instant recognition by roping, even second rung cricketers. Football
infrastructure in our country is appalling to say the least, with many
states not even having a football association.
It's not that
we don't have the resources to promote the game , countries like Brazil,
Argentina are no better than us , but the administration there is
passionate about the game,& therein lies the difference.
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If the govt. &
sports ministry wants to see the Indian football team make it to the World
cup qualifiers let alone finals and more Bhaichung Bhutias and
Vijayans to come up through the ranks they should encourage the sport
in the schools at the grass root level, direct some money from the filthy
rich cricket boards to the domestic infrastructure of football, so that
this time if we make it (eternal optimistic), we don't have to go
barefooted. If football is properly marketed and provided the requisite
infrastructure, then, I sincerely believe that it can give cricket a run
for its money!
Until
then just sit back and enjoy the World cup , you never know you might be
cheering for India in a few yrs. from now. Miracles do happen!
Contributing Author: Rahul Anand, is a second
year student of engineering from Delhi university. rahul.daincredible@yahoo.com
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