I was watching a video earlier titled India the sleeping giant of world football. Now without being offensive, I thought you had to be good to be a sleeping giant...
I know cricket has historically been the most popular sport but for a nation of over a billion to not produce one player to play in European leagues amazes me. China aren't that much better as a national team but they have produced Premier League players. Sun Jihai played for Man City, Li Tie for Everton and Zheng Zhi for Charlton. In addition there have been some players in the Bundesliga.
I also appreciate that while India's central economic power is strong, the urban-rural divide is massive. Poverty is still rife. But that hasn't stopped the developing African and South American nations producing talented players who can go to Europe, make a success for themselves and who can and have reinvested their wealth and experience into programs to develop their nation. Didn't Syria come closer to qualifying for a World Cup than India ever have....?
I watch cricket and Indian cricket has a lot of glitz and glamour to it. They pay the best cricketers up to a million dollars for a month's service in the IPL. They hire ****** cheerleaders! Recently they've been holding masters tournaments where retired footballers like Ronaldinho, Giggs, Crespo and other legends play short indoor games. And a look at r/reddevils shows there is interest in football.
One could assume a booming period is to come soon. That would be good as you want the game to grow. However even among British-Indians who I know of many and who love the game, there isn't much professional representation. Michael Chopra is half Indian through his father's side. Neil Taylor is half Indian through his mother's side. From what I read the only British-Asian in professional football whose parents are both Asian is Zesh Rehman (Pakistan). callandys
So what has held Indian football back? Is a booming period forthcoming and could football one day be more popular than cricket?
I know cricket has historically been the most popular sport but for a nation of over a billion to not produce one player to play in European leagues amazes me. China aren't that much better as a national team but they have produced Premier League players. Sun Jihai played for Man City, Li Tie for Everton and Zheng Zhi for Charlton. In addition there have been some players in the Bundesliga.
I also appreciate that while India's central economic power is strong, the urban-rural divide is massive. Poverty is still rife. But that hasn't stopped the developing African and South American nations producing talented players who can go to Europe, make a success for themselves and who can and have reinvested their wealth and experience into programs to develop their nation. Didn't Syria come closer to qualifying for a World Cup than India ever have....?
I watch cricket and Indian cricket has a lot of glitz and glamour to it. They pay the best cricketers up to a million dollars for a month's service in the IPL. They hire ****** cheerleaders! Recently they've been holding masters tournaments where retired footballers like Ronaldinho, Giggs, Crespo and other legends play short indoor games. And a look at r/reddevils shows there is interest in football.
One could assume a booming period is to come soon. That would be good as you want the game to grow. However even among British-Indians who I know of many and who love the game, there isn't much professional representation. Michael Chopra is half Indian through his father's side. Neil Taylor is half Indian through his mother's side. From what I read the only British-Asian in professional football whose parents are both Asian is Zesh Rehman (Pakistan). callandys
So what has held Indian football back? Is a booming period forthcoming and could football one day be more popular than cricket?