Revamped I-League has to be pan-Indian, says Bhutia
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia feels the new-look I-League on the lines of US Major League Soccer (MLS) should encompass the entire country and not be confined to a few select cities.
Speaking on the sidelines of unveiling the Euro 2012 Trophy, Bhutia said the game right now is restricted to a handful of cities. If I-League has to be popular, it has to be pan-Indian.
"For I-league, the important thing is to spread the game across the country. You can't have 80 percent of the clubs from Kolkata and Goa. Then you are playing I-League between two cities. First of all, we need to spread the game across, once that is done fans from all over the country will watch it. They will flock to the stadiums as well," said Bhutia.
Bhutia felt that a football fan would get frustrated and bored if he kept watching the same two teams play over and over again.
"If I am a football fan from Kolkata and five teams are playing there, ten times a year if I watch East Bengal play Mohun Bagan, I think somewhere down the line I would get fed up. So it's important we manage it properly. I-League clubs asking for revenue-sharing is absolutely genuine, but the problem is AIFF itself is not making money. So, where do they get it from?" said Bhutia.
The European championships taking place in Poland and Ukraine will see the top teams battle it out for the title. Bhutia tipped Spain or Germany to win the title.
"My favourites for the Euro 2012 are Spain and Germany."(IANS)
Revamped I-League has to be pan-Indian, says Bhutia
New Delhi, Feb 25 : Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia feels the new-look I-League on the lines of US Major League Soccer (MLS) should encompass the entire country and not be confined to a few select cities.
Speaking on the sidelines of unveiling the Euro 2012 Trophy, Bhutia said the game right now is restricted to a handful of cities. If I-League has to be popular, it has to be pan-Indian.
"For I-league, the important thing is to spread the game across the country. You can't have 80 percent of the clubs from Kolkata and Goa. Then you are playing I-League between two cities. First of all, we need to spread the game across, once that is done fans from all over the country will watch it. They will flock to the stadiums as well," said Bhutia.
Bhutia felt that a football fan would get frustrated and bored if he kept watching the same two teams play over and over again.
"If I am a football fan from Kolkata and five teams are playing there, ten times a year if I watch East Bengal play Mohun Bagan, I think somewhere down the line I would get fed up. So it's important we manage it properly. I-League clubs asking for revenue-sharing is absolutely genuine, but the problem is AIFF itself is not making money. So, where do they get it from?" said Bhutia.
The European championships taking place in Poland and Ukraine will see the top teams battle it out for the title. Bhutia tipped Spain or Germany to win the title.
"My favourites for the Euro 2012 are Spain and Germany."(IANS)
Football players around the world sign a contract, not in India
In the upper tiers of European football, most top players are represented by agents who negotiate their contracts, send out feelers to other clubs for potential transfers and handle their endorsements. Despite how ubiquitous they are, they tend to be viewed with suspicion.
“Buy ‘em when they’re cheap, and flog ‘em before their value drops. How many millions can you make off others’ talent?”asks the promo for “Football Agent,” a flash game on a popular gaming website.
“Anywhere you go, that’s the perception of agents,” says Jehan Kothary, a Puneite who is one of the only three FIFA-certified football agents in India. “Not just football, but even, say, real estate agents. It’s something we have to live with.”
“I got in touch with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and asked them whether they could conduct the FIFA agent exam,” Kothary says. “They were very cooperative, and conducted the first exam in May 2010. Around 15 people wrote it, and three of us passed. We’re still the only three in the country, though the AIFF has conducted three more exams after that.”
At this point, Kothary represents seven players, the most recognisable of whom is New Zealander Kayne Vincent, who plays up front for Prayag SC in the I-League. The others include two Nigerians — one of whom plays in the PDFA league and the other in Bangladesh — and four young Indian players.
“One of them is 16, and plays in the Bolton Wanderers academy in the UK,” says Kothary. “A couple more play in Pune, one for Deccan XI and one for the Pune FC academy. Both have got offers from I-League clubs for the next season.” Indian football represents unique challenges for an agent in terms of the contracts that players sign.
“Everywhere else, players sign a standard contract,” Kothary says. “Everyone — from a youngster who hasn’t played a game yet to an established star — signs the same kind of contract. Only the names, personal details and salaries are different.”
This isn’t the case in India. “Here, each club has a different contract. Some are professional, but some are a joke — two-pagers with about eight or nine clauses,” Kothary says. “It isn’t just young players, but even seniors whose interests may be compromised by such contracts. There is no proper dispute settlement.”
Agents’ responsibilities go further than just helping players negotiate contracts, Kothary says. “It’s a 360-degree thing, where we work with them through their careers, whether it’s about commercial opportunities or public relations,” he says. “We even help them with the financials in terms of investments, etc.”
wow...I didnt know this..the players contract should always be uniform..why isnt AIFF fllowing this in th eleage?
This is part of the reason I support a separate body for I-League. Right now the AIFF is a mess, its all "should we focus on youth", "should we focus on the league next season", "should we focus on National Team". Its to much for them.
That is why I want AIFF, all the I-League clubs, IMG, and the State Federations to have 1 Super meeting so they divide the work. The AIFF will focus on the National Team affairs and seeing how progress goes with grassroots and leagues. The State Associations will work on youth football and setting up camps and all that. And the League will be ran by a body of around 20 men. 10 of the 20 should be representatives from the I-League clubs and the other 10 should be around 8 IMG and 2 AIFF representatives, that way all sides will be looked at.
wow...I didnt know this..the players contract should always be uniform..why isnt AIFF fllowing this in th eleage?
This is part of the reason I support a separate body for I-League. Right now the AIFF is a mess, its all "should we focus on youth", "should we focus on the league next season", "should we focus on National Team". Its to much for them.
That is why I want AIFF, all the I-League clubs, IMG, and the State Federations to have 1 Super meeting so they divide the work. The AIFF will focus on the National Team affairs and seeing how progress goes with grassroots and leagues. The State Associations will work on youth football and setting up camps and all that. And the League will be ran by a body of around 20 men. 10 of the 20 should be representatives from the I-League clubs and the other 10 should be around 8 IMG and 2 AIFF representatives, that way all sides will be looked at.
<!-- s:bow-plusone: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/bow/plusone.gif" alt=":bow-plusone:" title="PlusOne" /><!-- s:bow-plusone: --> this should be the way it should be working and i hope it get to work this way soon
yes..it should be this way.. <!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/handgestures/thumbup.gif" alt=":handgestures-thumbup:" title="Thumb Up" /><!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: -->
The Indian National Football Team 23-man squad has been announced for the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal. The squad is as follows. Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar), Subhasish Roychowdhury (Dempo SC), Arindam Bhattacharya (Churchill Brothers). Defenders: Nirmal Chhetri, Raju Gaikwad (both Kingfisher East Bengal), Sameer Naik (Dempo SC), Gourmangi Singh (Churchill Brothers), Anwar Ali, Kinsukh Debnath, Syed Rahim Nabi (all McDowell Mohun Bagan), Gurjinder Singh (Pune FC). Midfielders: Adil Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Reisangmi Vashum (Kingfisher East Bengal), Rocus Lamare, Francis Fernandes (both Salgaocar SC), Jewel Raja (McDowell Mohun Bagan), Lenny Rodrigues, Lalrindika Ralte (both Churchill Brothers). Forwards: Sunil Chhetri (McDowell Mohun Bagan), Sushil Singh (Shillong Lajong FC – on loan), CS Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows), Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC)
The I-League 2nd Division Final Round begins today with fan favorites Aizawl FC and United Sikkim FC playing ONGC FC and Vasco SC respectively in Siliguri. These matches in Siliguri also serve a purpose in I-League to as this could be an indicator of the crowd Prayag United could have next season.
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New Delhi, Feb 25 : Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia feels the new-look I-League on the lines of US Major League Soccer (MLS) should encompass the entire country and not be confined to a few select cities.
Speaking on the sidelines of unveiling the Euro 2012 Trophy, Bhutia said the game right now is restricted to a handful of cities. If I-League has to be popular, it has to be pan-Indian.
"For I-league, the important thing is to spread the game across the country. You can't have 80 percent of the clubs from Kolkata and Goa. Then you are playing I-League between two cities. First of all, we need to spread the game across, once that is done fans from all over the country will watch it. They will flock to the stadiums as well," said Bhutia.
Bhutia felt that a football fan would get frustrated and bored if he kept watching the same two teams play over and over again.
"If I am a football fan from Kolkata and five teams are playing there, ten times a year if I watch East Bengal play Mohun Bagan, I think somewhere down the line I would get fed up. So it's important we manage it properly. I-League clubs asking for revenue-sharing is absolutely genuine, but the problem is AIFF itself is not making money. So, where do they get it from?" said Bhutia.
The European championships taking place in Poland and Ukraine will see the top teams battle it out for the title. Bhutia tipped Spain or Germany to win the title.
"My favourites for the Euro 2012 are Spain and Germany."(IANS)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://topnews.in/sports/revamped-i-league-has-be-pan-indian-says-bhutia-226820"; onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://topnews.in/sports/revamped-i-lea ... tia-226820</a><!-- m -->
Even Bhutia says so. If he can see it than how come AIFF cant.
In the upper tiers of European football, most top players are represented by agents who negotiate their contracts, send out feelers to other clubs for potential transfers and handle their endorsements. Despite how ubiquitous they are, they tend to be viewed with suspicion.
“Buy ‘em when they’re cheap, and flog ‘em before their value drops. How many millions can you make off others’ talent?”asks the promo for “Football Agent,” a flash game on a popular gaming website.
“Anywhere you go, that’s the perception of agents,” says Jehan Kothary, a Puneite who is one of the only three FIFA-certified football agents in India. “Not just football, but even, say, real estate agents. It’s something we have to live with.”
“I got in touch with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and asked them whether they could conduct the FIFA agent exam,” Kothary says. “They were very cooperative, and conducted the first exam in May 2010. Around 15 people wrote it, and three of us passed. We’re still the only three in the country, though the AIFF has conducted three more exams after that.”
At this point, Kothary represents seven players, the most recognisable of whom is New Zealander Kayne Vincent, who plays up front for Prayag SC in the I-League. The others include two Nigerians — one of whom plays in the PDFA league and the other in Bangladesh — and four young Indian players.
“One of them is 16, and plays in the Bolton Wanderers academy in the UK,” says Kothary. “A couple more play in Pune, one for Deccan XI and one for the Pune FC academy. Both have got offers from I-League clubs for the next season.” Indian football represents unique challenges for an agent in terms of the contracts that players sign.
“Everywhere else, players sign a standard contract,” Kothary says. “Everyone — from a youngster who hasn’t played a game yet to an established star — signs the same kind of contract. Only the names, personal details and salaries are different.”
This isn’t the case in India. “Here, each club has a different contract. Some are professional, but some are a joke — two-pagers with about eight or nine clauses,” Kothary says. “It isn’t just young players, but even seniors whose interests may be compromised by such contracts. There is no proper dispute settlement.”
Agents’ responsibilities go further than just helping players negotiate contracts, Kothary says. “It’s a 360-degree thing, where we work with them through their careers, whether it’s about commercial opportunities or public relations,” he says. “We even help them with the financials in terms of investments, etc.”
This is part of the reason I support a separate body for I-League. Right now the AIFF is a mess, its all "should we focus on youth", "should we focus on the league next season", "should we focus on National Team". Its to much for them.
That is why I want AIFF, all the I-League clubs, IMG, and the State Federations to have 1 Super meeting so they divide the work. The AIFF will focus on the National Team affairs and seeing how progress goes with grassroots and leagues. The State Associations will work on youth football and setting up camps and all that. And the League will be ran by a body of around 20 men. 10 of the 20 should be representatives from the I-League clubs and the other 10 should be around 8 IMG and 2 AIFF representatives, that way all sides will be looked at.
The Indian National Football Team 23-man squad has been announced for the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal. The squad is as follows. Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar), Subhasish Roychowdhury (Dempo SC), Arindam Bhattacharya (Churchill Brothers). Defenders: Nirmal Chhetri, Raju Gaikwad (both Kingfisher East Bengal), Sameer Naik (Dempo SC), Gourmangi Singh (Churchill Brothers), Anwar Ali, Kinsukh Debnath, Syed Rahim Nabi (all McDowell Mohun Bagan), Gurjinder Singh (Pune FC). Midfielders: Adil Khan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Anthony Pereira (Dempo SC), Reisangmi Vashum (Kingfisher East Bengal), Rocus Lamare, Francis Fernandes (both Salgaocar SC), Jewel Raja (McDowell Mohun Bagan), Lenny Rodrigues, Lalrindika Ralte (both Churchill Brothers). Forwards: Sunil Chhetri (McDowell Mohun Bagan), Sushil Singh (Shillong Lajong FC – on loan), CS Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows), Joaquim Abranches (Dempo SC)
NF Railway won the 54th annual All India Inter Railway Tournament after winning in the Final against Eastern Railway 2-1 in Baneras. Scorers were Susanka Chanda and Sipra Narzary for NF. http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar0412/sports07
JKPDC could be out of the Rajiv Ghandi Gold Cup after being caught with 3 illegal foreigners. The team led by former Indian captain Abdul Majeed Kakroo. http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Mar/4/jk-pdc-football-team-caught-in-fix-22.asp
Article on Pune FC... http://www.indianexpress.com/news/PFC-manages-to-hold-fort-despite-goal-keepers--injuries/919803/
Subrata Pal is feeling good about India's chances in the AFC Challenge Cup. The Pune FC Number 1 keeper who made his return yesterday against Pailan Arrows. Here is the interview... http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/subrata-paul-afc-challenge-cup-in-kathmandu-football/1/176421.html
The I-League 2nd Division Final Round begins today with fan favorites Aizawl FC and United Sikkim FC playing ONGC FC and Vasco SC respectively in Siliguri. These matches in Siliguri also serve a purpose in I-League to as this could be an indicator of the crowd Prayag United could have next season.
Article on sponsors outside of Indian Cricket... http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/Features/Brands-see-beyond-cricket/Article1-820764.aspx