<font face="Arial, Verdana" size="5"><b>When the Kolkata football clubs lost possession</b></font><div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="5"><b><br></b></font></div><div><div class="article-dateline" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; width: auto; position: relative; float: left; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-weight: bold; clear: right; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">April 15, 2012: </div><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Football is and will remain a sport of the masses the world over. There is no other team sporting spectacle as big as the Soccer World Cup. The game has no frontier; it has no religion and certainly no language. It is beautiful; it is captivating and it is imaginative. The World loves it.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The game was the <i style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Numero Uno</i> sport in India till cricket broke the barrier by winning the 1983 Prudential World Cup in England. Since that historic achievement 29 years ago, cricket today has taken up the No. 1 position. Cricket has grown from Test format to ODI to T20, constantly evolving and bring in variety to sustain interest among the masses.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The Indian Cricket Board had no money to felicitate its heroes of 1983 till one mandarin suggested a Lata Mangeshkar show to raise money. The Kapil's Devils were successfully honoured but the administrators in the Board realised the need to raise money to spread the game. And now the BCCI is perhaps the richest sporting body in India. It also made the International Cricket Council (ICC), which governs the game in the World, as rich, if not richer.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">And the beautiful game remained the same in India with an amateurish setup controlling it.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Even in those days Kolkata football was different. It was considered as the “Mecca of Indian Football.'' The three Big Clubs – Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting – took the game to different a plane by attracting the best talent in the country. Kolkata became the last stop for football stars. There was time when the Indian team had 90 per cent of the players from Kolkata.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Football players were paid handsomely by the Kolkata clubs but not openly. The outlook was amateurish. Plenty of players came from adjoining districts of Kolkata and emerged as top flight footballers for both the clubs and the country but their level of ambition was restricted to own a house, a car and substantial bank balance. They all loved the adulation of club supporters and enjoyed the superstar tag. Some even preferred Club over Country.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The talent these clubs attracted helped the Kolkata clubs to dominate Indian football. With the introduction of National Football League in 1996-97, teams outside Kolkata began to assert itself. In fact, JCT won the inaugural league. Since 2007-08 the name was changed to I-League. This gruelling tournament, spread over many months, became the most important fixture of Indian football.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">I-League clubs needed to professionalise themselves to the demands of the game. Both McDowell Mohun Bagan and Kingfisher East Bengal became limited companies to attract corporate sponsorship as Mohammedan Sporting faded away failing to sustain financially.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal were quick to recover and dominate the tournament by winning the NFL six times with each sharing the spoils equally. The last time a Kolkata club (East Bengal) won the title was in 2003-04. Thereafter, it was all the way by teams from Goa except in 2005-06 when the now defunct Mahindra United lifted the title.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">It was not difficult to see the reasons for the Kolkata club's discomfiture for the past seven years. Even this year, Goa's Dempo SC is well set to annex the title. The two clubs, having a large number of passionate supporters, were expected to win everything in sight. In such a demanding situation, overflowing emotion takes precedence over logic.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Clubs like Shillong Lajong FC, which has successfully built a fan base, and Pune FC have completely different approach to the game with a CEO running the show. A clear vision, proper planning and building a balanced team are some of the areas that need urgent attention. Winning is a habit. And to achieve this virtue there has to be a method. Kolkata clubs will do well to develop the method.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">___________________________________________________________________</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font face="Arial">This is so true. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Prayag United should learn from Pune FC and Shillong Lajong FC in terms of <b>off the field matters.</b> They should help the fans. Take advantage of them. Grow the fan base. Eventually they will get the title if they spend money the right way and create a good comercial budget.</font></p></div>
<p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><h1 class="detail-title" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 24px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(31, 87, 165); ">National team needs time to get used to world level: Bhutia</h1></p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia today said the national team should be given enough time in order to make an impact on the international arena.</p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">With India lying low in 165th place in FIFA rankings, the former India captain said: “The national team has too many young players now so they need time to gel and get used to the international level.”</p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Once dominant in Indian football, Kolkata is yet to win the national league (now I-League) in eight years -East Bengal had last won the title in 2003-4. Bhutia said the Big Two city teams -Mohun Bagan and East Bengal -need to settle down instead of changing and chopping.</p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">“The Kolkata clubs need to retain the same team for two-three seasons to have a settled look. I think East Bengal have done well in that regard last two seasons but unfortunately it looks like they have fallen a little short again,” he said.</p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Bhutia further said the I-League title is once again Goa-bound, with Dempo firmly in lead.</p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">“Dempo deserve to be champions because of their consistency,” the Sikkimese Sniper said.</p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Talking to reporters on the sidelines of T20 Pepsi Challenge, Bhutia said: “It is a good platform for amateurs.</p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">When I was young, all I wanted was to play whether it was a five-a-side or eleven-a-side it didn’t matter. It is a good initiative and it helps increase popularity.”</p><p class="body" style="font-weight: normal; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The meet is a five-a-side football tournament for amateurs inside a cage covered from all ends.</p><p class="body" style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(59, 58, 57); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><b>thehindu.com</b></p>
<div id="article_headline" style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 7px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 7px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-left: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; position: relative; color: rgb(90, 90, 90); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; "><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; "><font size="3">Public Interest Litigation filed to seek ban on ministers heading sports federations</font></h1><h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; "><font size="2">A public issue litigation has been filed in Bombay High Court to end interference of ministers in sports once and for all...</font></h2><div class="betting-article-headline" style="font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 15px; "></div><div class="articleDate" style="font-size: 11px; padding-top: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); "><h4 style="font-size: 12px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 5px; ">16-Apr-2012 8:10:00 AM</h4><div class="addthis_toolbox" style="float: right; "><a class="addthis_button_email at300b" title="Email" href="http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2012/04/16/3039242/public-interest-litigation-filed-to-seek-ban-on-ministers#"; style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 66, 118); cursor: pointer; "><img src="http://i1.goal.com/web/goal/2012.04.16-v2/images/default/news/email_icon_02.gif"; style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; vertical-align: middle; margin-left: 6px; "></a> <a class="addthis_button_print at300b" title="Print" href="http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2012/04/16/3039242/public-interest-litigation-filed-to-seek-ban-on-ministers#"; style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 66, 118); cursor: pointer; "><img src="http://i2.goal.com/web/goal/2012.04.16-v2/images/default/news/print_icon_02.gif"; style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; vertical-align: middle; margin-left: 6px; "></a><div class="atclear" style="clear: both; "></div></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; font-size: 1px; line-height: 0; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></div></div><h3 style="font-size: 12px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 66, 118); ">By Goal.com</h3><h3 style="font-size: 12px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 66, 118); "><span style="color: rgb(26, 39, 50); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; ">Society for Fast Justice (SFJ), a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), has filed a petition in Bombay High Court against ministers heading sports federations in the country given that they spend office hours to do the party work instead of working for the development of the sport they are in-charge of.</span></h3></div><div class="KonaBody" id="article_content" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(26, 39, 50); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-bottom: 22px; padding-left: 12px; position: relative; width: 596px; "><span id="divAdnetKeyword"><p>The petition asks for a ruling that the ministers, such as <strong>Praful Patel</strong> (president, All India Football Federation), Sharad Pawar (president, International Cricket Council), Vilasrao Deshmukh (president, Mumbai Cricket Association) Farookh Abdullah (president, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association) and C.P.Joshi (president, Rajasthan Cricket Association), give up either their ministerial positions or the managerial posts they occupy in the sphere of sports.</p><div class="ap_relatedLinksBox" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; width: 596px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(214, 214, 214); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(214, 214, 214); text-align: center; font-weight: bold; "><div style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; width: 596px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The petitioners are of the opinion that Central and State ministers are public servants and that they were compromising on their primary work as public servants by being part of several sports federations.</span></div></div><p>SJF in its petition states that Praful Patel, in his position as the civil aviation minister, was responsible for Air India’s debt increasing from Rs. 10, 000 crore to Rs.40, 000 crore.</p><p>The president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sharad Pawar has been blamed for mismanagement in his role as the union agriculture minister which led to excess or inadequate harvest of various crops.</p><p>The NGO has asked for attendance records of the said ministers to be checked while the petition is likely to be heard on April 19.</p></span></div>
<br><div><br></div><div>Football for a cause in my home state,,,wow i am just loving it..</div><div>good work by all of them to keep slum kids away from dark side of world and keep them move ahead with good education and a football dream to succeed in their life</div><div><br></div><div>To all those who are behind this team. <span style="font-size: 10pt; ">^:)^ ^:)^</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal; ">Ok here's some inside news.</span><b> NOT</b> rumors. but if it doesnt happen dont blame me :P<div><br></div><div>Anglian football (those guys who had partnership with FCV Denmark, who had partnership with Lajong!) are contacting some other Indian footballers also and hoping to send them to FCV!!! And no its not for Lajong guys only.</div><div>If it happens that will be cool</div>
</font><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Ok here's some inside news.</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "> NOT</b><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2"> rumors. but if it doesnt happen dont blame me :P</font><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Anglian football (those guys who had partnership with FCV Denmark, who had partnership with Lajong!) are contacting some other Indian footballers also and hoping to send them to FCV!!! And no its not for Lajong guys only.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">If it happens that will be cool</div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2">
</font><br><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br></div><div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2">Rumor has it that Sunil Chhetri immediately called Anglian Group hoping to play in Denmark.</font></div><div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2">But seriously this is good news. Hope they dont take all the good Indian players, maybe Jeje and Raju but that is it. We need to keep some Indians in India as well.</font></div>
I would like young guns to go as of now mostly U-23, so that they have time to develop further. Jeje/Romeo/Sanju going to Denmark is way better than Sunil going to Denmark.<div><br></div><div>But hope this does not stay as rumour.</div><div><br></div><div>Anyways, today rudra is on roll. He is dropping bombs one after one (inside news). This has really lighten up the forum (atleast for me). <span style="font-size: 10pt; ">:P</span></div><div><br></div><div>But this the best piece of the news so far.</div><br>
Comments
<br><div><br></div><div>Football for a cause in my home state,,,wow i am just loving it..</div><div>good work by all of them to keep slum kids away from dark side of world and keep them move ahead with good education and a football dream to succeed in their life</div><div><br></div><div>To all those who are behind this team. <span style="font-size: 10pt; ">^:)^ ^:)^</span></div>
</font><br><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br></div><div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2">Rumor has it that Sunil Chhetri immediately called Anglian Group hoping to play in Denmark.</font></div><div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2">But seriously this is good news. Hope they dont take all the good Indian players, maybe Jeje and Raju but that is it. We need to keep some Indians in India as well.</font></div>