RISE OF FOOTBALL IN INDIA
The emergence of success for football in India started during the golden
era, under the tutelage of Coach Syed Abdul Rahim. It was during this era
when the Indian team gave birth to the pace of victories and it continued
ever since then.
The sports sector in India has observed a handful of recent development,
which have contributed to its significant growth. While all eyes are still
fixed on cricket, being the popular and the most followed sport in India,
football paved its way through gaining sizeable interest over the years.
The establishment of All India Football Federation in 1996 offered a ray of
hope for the development of football. It has figured a way out by
presenting a strategic plan, out of which some includes:-
More opportunities for women
Infrastructure and legacy (including mega events)
Go Local
Competition oriented development
Of course the football industry has enormous business potential in the
fields of marketing, broadcasting and sponsorship, but the focal point is
that structural changes are required to disseminate its potential.
INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE
With the Introduction of ISL (Indian Super League), Indian football had
become the talk of the town. The idea of naming teams after major
Indian cities targeted the Indians with something we all connect
emotionally, our cities. This ideology lead the people sprawl near the
ticket counters and support their favorite franchise which continues till
date.
Football was meandering around with no defined path to follow, which
no one noticed. Initiation of new league provided players a global stage
to showcase their talent and catered viewers an opportunity to get more
attached to their favorite sport. The game was always well-known across
certain regions and pockets of the society. The league has in addition
given it mainstream attention which turns out to be a cherry on the cake.
With the influx of ISL, influencers promoting football on social media has
also had a positive impact on Indian football. Online consumption of
sports content is on the rise in India. Around 32 Million fans watch ISL
online which is probably the second largest digital fan audience after IPL
(Indian Premier League). Undoubtedly, online viewers are no longer a
small, niche category.
EFFECT OF FAN INTERACTION
Recently our captain Sunil Chhetri after having a glance at the empty
stadium said, “Please come and support us, it means the world to us.
There are two reasons :- 1) It’s the best game in the world. 2) We play
for our country.” The following day the stadiums were completely packed
with blue jerseys supporting and standing by the men in blue.
This clearly states, fan interaction plays a vital role in order to unite fans
all over and indulge them in a sport. Football has not only been an
emotion but has also been a medium which has helped the country, state
or a city hosting it, raise a lot of funds. A sport of that magnitude can
easily boost the economy of a country. Why didn't India, one of the
world's highly populated country get its name dented on a global map of
football? India, a country with 1.2 billion people is nowhere seen as a
country that celebrates the game of football as much as it does for
cricket.
CONCLUSION
While the graph shows gradual increase in the growth and development
of football in India, it has once again allowed millions of players in India
believe in their dreams, to work hard and make ends meet which is quite
evident. The history of Indian football witnessed a great chronicle, but
the talent is yet to be explored. With the rise and craze of ISL the current
scenario looks bright for the future of football in India.
Wishing for India to qualify for the World Cup. Possibilities do lie ahead of
us and with everything that we have, India has the potential to step-up to
that challenge.
