Today I have realized that I live in a world which does not want me to play soccer/football...
In the UK I found a field near both the houses I stayed at but I could not play at them because I was busy or I was told that it was not safe to go out alone and play (I said I can deal with it but I was advised from doing so) and now I am back in the US and as soon as a I get back all the fields are frozen and closed and when I tried going in my backyard to play I fell on my ass after literally a minute of playing... can't win!
Oh, and there is an indoor field nearby but it is either fully booked or $25-$75 to get an hour... I ain't got the money for dat shit!
At least I can still play inside my house, don't care if I brake some glass.
21st to 24th Jan banks are on strike. 25th is Sunday & 26th Jan is a holiday.
So virtually all nationalised banks will remain closed for a week. Even ATMs will be out of cash after a day or two. So complete all your fin transactions by 20th Jan.
its preety old article but a good one though Is it finally worth being a footballer in India? by Arlene Chang Jul 11, 2012 15:53 IST 35 9 0 Cricket may represent the rustle of notes in Indian sport, but the game of football must most definitely stand for passion. It's not for nothing that there's folklore in Kolkata around how women in the old days sold their jewellery to fund their husbands' favorite players' wages. Or how a man superstitious about his favorite team losing in his absence came to the football stadium after cremating his son. And while there was always much passion about the game, money was not necessarily flowing in. However, things may be changing for the better. According to the All India Football Federation, the sport's governing body in the country, the average salary of India's professional footballers for the upcoming season beginning August, saw a jump of between 40 and 62 percent from last year. "Any average professional player, who played for India last year made anywhere between Rs 40 and 50 lakh per annum. This season their salaries have seen a spike and they are drawing anywhere between Rs 65 and 70 lakh," said the All India Football Association's spokesperson, Nilanjan Datta. The highest paid player in India for the coming season is the Nigerian striker for Mohun Bagan, Odafa Okolie, drawing a whopping Rs 3.25 crore. He is followed by Prayag United's Nigerian striker Ranty Martins who will make Rs 1.8 crore this season, Tolgay Ozbey of Mohun Bagan who will draw a salary of Rs 1.5 crore and Costa Rican mid-fielder Carlos Hernandez who will play for Prayag United a sum of Rs 1.25 crore. All these players are also eligible for perks like accommodation, reimbursement of children's tuition fees and (yes!) a Mercedes S-Class. While the top paid Indian footballers don't have it as good as their imported counterparts with the perks, they still make a sum that is handsome by Indian football standards. Subrata Pal, India's goalkeeper nicknamed "Spiderman"- who plays for Prayag United, will make Rs 1.1 crore this year, while Gouramangi Singh, central defender for Prayag United, will earn Rs 1.05 crore as salary. The association says that even second league footballers make an average of Rs 8 to 10 lakhs a year. And then of course, there's Sunil Chhetri, who after excelling for India's senior side has signed for Portugal's Sporting Lisbon. According to the AIFF, there has also been an increase in the number of spectators for the Indian League matches at stadiums. While a Mohun Bagan versus East Bengal match always draws record crowds of anywhere between 80,000 and 1,20,000 fans, a regular Indian League match has seen the number of spectators go up from a little over 3,000 spectators two years ago to an average of 5,000 spectators at each match this past year. The reason being, the increased interest in and exposure to football nationally. "The game has become mostly popular due to the increased number of matches being aired on TV these days and also personal interest," says AIFF's spokesperson. The association says that even second league footballers make an average of Rs 8 to 10 lakhs a year. Arlene Chang/ Firstpost However, Indian football still has its fair share of problems. While the game is still the predominant choice in Kolkata, youngsters tend to follow and recall European Clubs more than homegrown clubs -- like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal or Dempo. The problem says Dutta, lies in India not being a country that has a club culture. "It is precisely the reason why it's always a houseful for any match in Delhi that has the national team playing," he says. This culture spill also reflects in the number of clubs in the country. India has just 1,500 registered clubs all over the country and only a measly 30 dedicated football fields. Also, since most clubs in India are driven by a personal interest and are owned by business families, the discrepancy in their budgets is huge. For example a Prayag United has a budget of Rs 20 crore for the upcoming season, while Bhaichung Bhutia's United Sikkim FC is facing a cash crunch with a budget of just Rs 3 crore. While clubs like United Sikkim FC and Shillong Lajong FC may have immensely talented players, the paucity of funds pose a huge challenge to the team and its players. So while the overall pay of footballers in the country has improved, the state of the game in India remains status quo. With a few exceptions- it's all passion and mostly no pay. m.firstpost.com/sports/is-it-finally-worth-being-a-footballer-in-india-374485.html
Wing Commander Puja Thakur of the Indian Air Force did India proud as she led the Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan during the ceremonial reception for USA President Barack Obama
Comments
21st to 24th Jan banks are on strike.
25th is Sunday & 26th Jan is a holiday.
So virtually all nationalised banks will remain closed for a week.
Even ATMs will be out of cash after a day or two.
So complete all your fin transactions by 20th Jan.
Please update everyone.
Is it finally worth being a footballer in
India?
by Arlene Chang Jul 11, 2012 15:53 IST
35 9 0
Cricket may represent the rustle of notes
in Indian sport, but the game of football
must most definitely stand for passion.
It's not for nothing that there's folklore
in Kolkata around how women in the old
days sold their jewellery to fund their
husbands' favorite players' wages. Or
how a man superstitious about his
favorite team losing in his absence came
to the football stadium after cremating
his son. And while there was always
much passion about the game, money
was not necessarily flowing in.
However, things may be changing for the
better.
According to the All India Football
Federation, the sport's governing body in
the country, the average salary of India's
professional footballers for the upcoming
season beginning August, saw a jump of
between 40 and 62 percent from last
year.
"Any average professional player, who
played for India last year made
anywhere between Rs 40 and 50 lakh per
annum. This season their salaries have
seen a spike and they are drawing
anywhere between Rs 65 and 70 lakh,"
said the All India Football Association's
spokesperson, Nilanjan Datta.
The highest paid player in India for the
coming season is the Nigerian striker for
Mohun Bagan, Odafa Okolie, drawing a
whopping Rs 3.25 crore. He is followed
by Prayag United's Nigerian striker Ranty
Martins who will make Rs 1.8 crore this
season, Tolgay Ozbey of Mohun Bagan
who will draw a salary of Rs 1.5 crore
and Costa Rican mid-fielder Carlos
Hernandez who will play for Prayag
United a sum of Rs 1.25 crore. All these
players are also eligible for perks like
accommodation, reimbursement of
children's tuition fees and (yes!) a
Mercedes S-Class.
While the top paid Indian footballers
don't have it as good as their imported
counterparts with the perks, they still
make a sum that is handsome by Indian
football standards. Subrata Pal, India's
goalkeeper nicknamed "Spiderman"- who
plays for Prayag United, will make Rs 1.1
crore this year, while Gouramangi Singh,
central defender for Prayag United, will
earn Rs 1.05 crore as salary.
The association says that even second
league footballers make an average of Rs
8 to 10 lakhs a year.
And then of course, there's Sunil Chhetri,
who after excelling for India's senior
side has signed for Portugal's Sporting
Lisbon.
According to the AIFF, there has also
been an increase in the number of
spectators for the Indian League matches
at stadiums. While a Mohun Bagan
versus East Bengal match always draws
record crowds of anywhere between
80,000 and 1,20,000 fans, a regular
Indian League match has seen the
number of spectators go up from a little
over 3,000 spectators two years ago to an
average of 5,000 spectators at each match
this past year.
The reason being, the increased interest
in and exposure to football nationally.
"The game has become mostly popular
due to the increased number of matches
being aired on TV these days and also
personal interest," says AIFF's
spokesperson.
The association says that even second
league footballers make an average of Rs
8 to 10 lakhs a year. Arlene Chang/
Firstpost
However, Indian football still has its fair
share of problems. While the game is still
the predominant choice in Kolkata,
youngsters tend to follow and recall
European Clubs more than homegrown
clubs -- like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal or
Dempo. The problem says Dutta, lies in
India not being a country that has a club
culture.
"It is precisely the reason why it's always
a houseful for any match in Delhi that
has the national team playing," he says.
This culture spill also reflects in the
number of clubs in the country. India
has just 1,500 registered clubs all over
the country and only a measly 30
dedicated football fields.
Also, since most clubs in India are driven
by a personal interest and are owned by
business families, the discrepancy in
their budgets is huge. For example a
Prayag United has a budget of Rs 20
crore for the upcoming season, while
Bhaichung Bhutia's United Sikkim FC is
facing a cash crunch with a budget of just
Rs 3 crore. While clubs like United
Sikkim FC and Shillong Lajong FC may
have immensely talented players, the
paucity of funds pose a huge challenge to
the team and its players.
So while the overall pay of footballers in
the country has improved, the state of
the game in India remains status quo.
With a few exceptions- it's all passion
and mostly no pay.
m.firstpost.com/sports/is-it-finally-worth-being-a-footballer-in-india-374485.html