A book Awakening the Blue Tigers: India’s Quest for Football’s Holy Grail; Neel Shah, Gaurav Gala, (Om Books; October 2022) has been recently published
Awakening the Blue Tigers surveys the contemporary scene in Indian football and offers a step-by-step guide into how India can edge their way to footballing dreamland.
A review by The Hindu:
Review of Awakening the Blue Tigers — India’s Quest for Football’s Holy Grail: Fandom to the field
Can India qualify for a football World Cup finals? Two writers attempt an answer
Several years ago, I tried out for the I-League’s Mumbai FC on a whim. Overwhelmed at the 80 players in attendance, the coaches cut players on the spot without seeing them in action. (“Where do you play?” one coach asked me, to which I responded “Canada.” It was a sleight of hand; the coach likely thought I played professionally abroad, when in fact, I am Canadian.)
After a three-hour wait, I was given 10 minutes to play 11 on 11, with players I had never met before. I performed atrociously. Somehow, I advanced to the next stage.
This anecdote is symptomatic of what needs to change in Indian football for it to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals. In their new book, Awakening the Blue Tigers: India’s Quest for Football’s Holy Grail, Neel Shah and Gaurav Gala cite the need to strengthen the professional football landscape, expand coaching education programmes and establish an expansive scouting network.
This book serves as an introduction to football in India, with chapters on hosting youth World Cups, conversations with notable Indians in the ecosystem, and quirky vignettes from “football hotbeds like West Bengal, Kerala, Goa and the Northeast”. These include 20,000 fans showing up at the Kolkata airport to greet Pele in 1977, the 3,50,000-strong Facebook group for Brazil fans in Kerala (including a woman named Brazilia) and the Kerala government proposing ayurvedic treatment to cure Neymar’s injuries.
Can football do a cricket?
In citing the Indian team once beating European powerhouse Ajax FC, or the 20 million supporters of Manchester United in India, Shah and Gala believe the interest is there, but continuous infrastructure building is needed. They cite Iceland’s development of coaching education, and Germany’s youth development system as case studies, even as they acknowledge the “well-run academies by Tata Steel, Reliance, JSW Group” within the country. A “clearly defined playing style and philosophy” with roles will help “maximise talent,” FC Goa’s Ravi Puskur adds, in the air of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
If Shah and Gala’s passion is contagious, their hypothesis on what is required for success should have been more focused and based on evidence (along with tighter editing). Despite investment, countries like Mexico, Egypt and Serbia historically underperform, weakening the argument that better infrastructure leads to international success.
Early on, they acknowledge that the Kapil Dev-led 1983 cricket team “sparked a cricket revolution in India that channelised most media coverage, corporate spending and government support”. Should India focus on having one Indian playing in a European league? Or should it change policies on including foreign-born Indians, with the success of Morocco at the World Cup — “the only team in the tournament with more than half of its 26 players born in other countries” — as proof of immediate success? Or maybe create a spectacle the way the IPL and Pro Kabaddi have, especially galvanising around an India-Pakistan rivalry game? Perhaps these are more efficient ways to generate returns.
Undoubtedly, India is a “sleeping giant,” as one FIFA president stated. What it takes to wake it up continues to remain unknown.
Awakening the Blue Tigers: India’s Quest for Football’s Holy Grail; Neel Shah, Gaurav Gala, Om Books, ₹495.
Another book that was discussed by @archak and @rudra was A Social History of Indian Football: Striving to Score by Kausik Bandyopadhyay and Boria Majumdar . Here is the link:
This thread has been languishing for a long time, so I thought it was time to revive it
I recently came across a thread containing a list of books on Indian football. The account where I found this thread is actually that of Somnath Sengupta, the creator of this thread here on IFN. The thread contains a list of books written in English and other regional languages. Some of the books do not exactly cover the entire span of Indian football but deal with particular players, particular clubs and football in particular Indian states. Due to space constraints I am only mentioning those books which are written in English.
Barefoot to Boots by @NovyKapadia (English)
Wonderfully written, edited. Contains loads of information about club, state football & national team. Currently available.
Beyond 90 Minutes - Autobiography of PK Banerjee (co written with Anirban Chatterjee). PK had a fascinating career. As a footballer he was a crucial in golden era of 1956 to 1964. He then became India's most successful coach at club level. Currently available
The fairytale triumph of @AizawlFC in I-league spawned two books. This is quite unique.
Rise above the clouds by @ChiranjitOjha & Goals of glory by Neel Sinha. Both are currently available.
India's Football Dream by Shantanu Gupta & Nikhil Paramjit Sharma. This is the latest book on #IndianFootball, covering early history as well as newer events like ISL & U17 World Cup.
Beyond the Goal by Mohammad Amin ul Islam : Biography of Baichung Bhutia
Karnataka Football - Icons And Issues by SS Shreekumar (English): Covers the history of football in Karnataka & contains profiles of many legendary players from the state. Currently available
East Bengal 100 by @gautamfootball (English): Book on East Bengal's history. Contains detailed statistics of each season & matches played since 1920
Midfield Maestro by Victor Amalraj & Abhijit Sengupta - Recently published autobiography of Amalraj, one of India's most reliable midfielders of 1980
Box to Box (Edited by Jaydeep Basu): A collection of essays by several renowned journalists on 75 years of Indian national team. Also contains stats about India's performance over the years
Balaram - The Hero of Indian Football by Tulsidas Balaram & Shyam Sundar Ghosh: Recently published autobiography of a man who is considered to be one of India's best ever footballer
Tulsidas Balaram by Sudipta Biswas (English): A well researched biography of Tulsidas Balaram. Also contains detailed stats about his playing days. Recently published
Footprints In The Sand: History of Salgaocar FC (1956–2016) by Marcus Mergulhao
Memorable Moments of Goan Soccer by Ajit K Note published in 1993. Comprehensive coverage of some of the major highlights of Goan Soccer
A Game of Two Halves by @RishavRay0 focusses on 11 clubs of Indian Football spanning from the birth of football to recent times. A comprehensive story of the club's birth, rise, epitome and fall, the book will be an interesting read for club football fans
Though I had mentioned books written in English in the post above, I would like to draw attention of the members to the book, Football Khelte Hole (How to Play Football) by Amal Dutta in Bengali .
Possibly the first & most detailed coaching manual written in an Indian language. Dutta covers everything from nutrition to tactics. This book also contains hand crafted tactical drawings by him
Containing chapters on "Body", "Skill", "Passing", "Kicking", "Screening", "Heading", "Passing and Inter-passing", "Positions in football--wing-back, stopper, wing-half, centre forward/striker, winger", "throw in, penalty kick, corner kick and free kick", "the evolution of football and tactics," "football rules" and "offside", this book is truly a pathbreaking work on Indian football
Those who can read Bengali can access the book here:
Comments
Awakening the Blue Tigers surveys the contemporary scene in Indian football and offers a step-by-step guide into how India can edge their way to footballing dreamland.
A review by The Hindu:
Review of Awakening the Blue Tigers — India’s Quest for Football’s Holy Grail: Fandom to the field
Can India qualify for a football World Cup finals? Two writers attempt an answer
Several years ago, I tried out for the I-League’s Mumbai FC on a whim. Overwhelmed at the 80 players in attendance, the coaches cut players on the spot without seeing them in action. (“Where do you play?” one coach asked me, to which I responded “Canada.” It was a sleight of hand; the coach likely thought I played professionally abroad, when in fact, I am Canadian.)
After a three-hour wait, I was given 10 minutes to play 11 on 11, with players I had never met before. I performed atrociously. Somehow, I advanced to the next stage.
This anecdote is symptomatic of what needs to change in Indian football for it to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals. In their new book, Awakening the Blue Tigers: India’s Quest for Football’s Holy Grail, Neel Shah and Gaurav Gala cite the need to strengthen the professional football landscape, expand coaching education programmes and establish an expansive scouting network.
This book serves as an introduction to football in India, with chapters on hosting youth World Cups, conversations with notable Indians in the ecosystem, and quirky vignettes from “football hotbeds like West Bengal, Kerala, Goa and the Northeast”. These include 20,000 fans showing up at the Kolkata airport to greet Pele in 1977, the 3,50,000-strong Facebook group for Brazil fans in Kerala (including a woman named Brazilia) and the Kerala government proposing ayurvedic treatment to cure Neymar’s injuries.
Can football do a cricket?
In citing the Indian team once beating European powerhouse Ajax FC, or the 20 million supporters of Manchester United in India, Shah and Gala believe the interest is there, but continuous infrastructure building is needed. They cite Iceland’s development of coaching education, and Germany’s youth development system as case studies, even as they acknowledge the “well-run academies by Tata Steel, Reliance, JSW Group” within the country. A “clearly defined playing style and philosophy” with roles will help “maximise talent,” FC Goa’s Ravi Puskur adds, in the air of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
If Shah and Gala’s passion is contagious, their hypothesis on what is required for success should have been more focused and based on evidence (along with tighter editing). Despite investment, countries like Mexico, Egypt and Serbia historically underperform, weakening the argument that better infrastructure leads to international success.
Early on, they acknowledge that the Kapil Dev-led 1983 cricket team “sparked a cricket revolution in India that channelised most media coverage, corporate spending and government support”. Should India focus on having one Indian playing in a European league? Or should it change policies on including foreign-born Indians, with the success of Morocco at the World Cup — “the only team in the tournament with more than half of its 26 players born in other countries” — as proof of immediate success? Or maybe create a spectacle the way the IPL and Pro Kabaddi have, especially galvanising around an India-Pakistan rivalry game? Perhaps these are more efficient ways to generate returns.
Undoubtedly, India is a “sleeping giant,” as one FIFA president stated. What it takes to wake it up continues to remain unknown.
Awakening the Blue Tigers: India’s Quest for Football’s Holy Grail; Neel Shah, Gaurav Gala, Om Books, ₹495.
https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/india-football-sport-blue-tigers-awakening-game-quest/article66423145.ece
https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=7160E6BC52AA711043C9A1866F894DBA
Another book that was discussed by @archak and @rudra was A Social History of Indian Football: Striving to Score by Kausik Bandyopadhyay and Boria Majumdar . Here is the link:
https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=61D4701CE6391360C5A5AE14312C7E7D
I recently came across a thread containing a list of books on Indian football. The account where I found this thread is actually that of Somnath Sengupta, the creator of this thread here on IFN. The thread contains a list of books written in English and other regional languages. Some of the books do not exactly cover the entire span of Indian football but deal with particular players, particular clubs and football in particular Indian states. Due to space constraints I am only mentioning those books which are written in English.
Happy reading!
https://x.com/IndianfootballH/status/1099538666681192448
Barefoot to Boots by @NovyKapadia
(English) Wonderfully written, edited. Contains loads of information about club, state football & national team. Currently available.
Beyond 90 Minutes - Autobiography of PK Banerjee (co written with Anirban Chatterjee). PK had a fascinating career. As a footballer he was a crucial in golden era of 1956 to 1964. He then became India's most successful coach at club level. Currently available
The fairytale triumph of @AizawlFC in I-league spawned two books. This is quite unique.
Rise above the clouds by @ChiranjitOjha & Goals of glory by Neel Sinha. Both are currently available.
India's Football Dream by Shantanu Gupta & Nikhil Paramjit Sharma. This is the latest book on #IndianFootball, covering early history as well as newer events like ISL & U17 World Cup.
Beyond the Goal by Mohammad Amin ul Islam : Biography of Baichung Bhutia
Karnataka Football - Icons And Issues by SS Shreekumar (English): Covers the history of football in Karnataka & contains profiles of many legendary players from the state. Currently available
East Bengal 100 by @gautamfootball (English): Book on East Bengal's history. Contains detailed statistics of each season & matches played since 1920
Midfield Maestro by Victor Amalraj & Abhijit Sengupta - Recently published autobiography of Amalraj, one of India's most reliable midfielders of 1980
Box to Box (Edited by Jaydeep Basu): A collection of essays by several renowned journalists on 75 years of Indian national team. Also contains stats about India's performance over the years
Balaram - The Hero of Indian Football by Tulsidas Balaram & Shyam Sundar Ghosh: Recently published autobiography of a man who is considered to be one of India's best ever footballer
Tulsidas Balaram by Sudipta Biswas (English): A well researched biography of Tulsidas Balaram. Also contains detailed stats about his playing days. Recently published
Footprints In The Sand: History of Salgaocar FC (1956–2016) by Marcus Mergulhao
Memorable Moments of Goan Soccer by Ajit K Note published in 1993. Comprehensive coverage of some of the major highlights of Goan Soccer
A Game of Two Halves by @RishavRay0 focusses on 11 clubs of Indian Football spanning from the birth of football to recent times. A comprehensive story of the club's birth, rise, epitome and fall, the book will be an interesting read for club football fans
Possibly the first & most detailed coaching manual written in an Indian language. Dutta covers everything from nutrition to tactics. This book also contains hand crafted tactical drawings by him
https://x.com/IndianfootballH/status/1322457099947798528
Containing chapters on "Body", "Skill", "Passing", "Kicking", "Screening", "Heading", "Passing and Inter-passing", "Positions in football--wing-back, stopper, wing-half, centre forward/striker, winger", "throw in, penalty kick, corner kick and free kick", "the evolution of football and tactics," "football rules" and "offside", this book is truly a pathbreaking work on Indian football
Those who can read Bengali can access the book here:
https://dn790005.ca.archive.org/0/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.300330/2015.300330.Football-Khelte.pdf