Friday, August 18, 2006

english premier league and the football in india.

We have again reached the time when the EPL(English Premier League) begins. It is indeed the most fascinating/exciting and happening football league in the world today. At the same time we have our new national coach for the Indian national Football team.Although i am a big fan of the Arsenal football club but i am an equally excited Indian football fan waiting impatiently for our football system to turn around.
The other day was watching a very healthy debate on Indian Football in one of our leading news channels, where in the Indian football governing body was going ga ga over their project 2010. According to this project India is supposed to qualify for the next world cup. Realistically speaking i do not see it happening in 2014 world cup also.
We have a basic lacunae where in our system does not throw out enough young talents and we only have pockets of Football following. If you were to go to some European countries or even in many Asian football nations it is spread quite evenly within the whole country and it helps(something similar to our cricket system). Football in india has a huge potential but it needs to be properly nurtured and must be above all politics. We need also sufficient talent schools/scouts nurturing/tapping the right talent and being always on the look out for the right player.
In this regard the newly appointed Indian coach's idea to tap Indian Footballers playing outside India in different leagues is a great idea to cut short this(his)learnign cycle and give/blood some Quality into the system quickly.

Coming back to the English premier League - Being an ardent Arsenal fan i want them to win the Premier League and the champions league this season. But the coach needs to invest more in the transfer market and get some quality especially in the defence. The premier league for sure is going to be a four cornered fight if not more especially between chelsea, manchester united, liverpool and arsenal. But Newcastle United and Toteham Hotspur have the ability and the desire to spring some exciting surprises. Thus Chelsea beware.
I am very excited and waitng impatiently for the match between Arsenal and Aston Villa in their new Emirates Stadium.
Let us all wait and see how this mega sporting event - the premiership unfolds.
Till then Bye Bye.