"I don't see any logic in having teams from Hindi heartland (where football is not at all popular) who would stuff their team with NE guys and provide only lip service to local development."
I'm from Delhi and know for a fact that Delhi is a mix pot of cultures. People from every nooks and corner of country live here therefore it would be wrong to say that we import our talent from NE states. Any NE residing in Delhi or any community residing and living here from long time is as much Delhiite as I'm. Rather its our inefficient league structure that prevents talents from coming up.
Even the place where I live in Delhi is surrounded by Bengali and Uttarakhand community and we have a make shift ground that we have build on our own ...... we have installed goal posts and light posts (goes to see how crazy we are about football)
From my school alone there are many players currently playing at ISL or I league level. Munmun Lugun, Rakshit Dagar, Gaurav Bora, Nitesh Chhikara and Rohit kumar are some names that I remember. (and all these names are just from single school)
Local talent development is also better in Delhi as compared to other states. Many players are provided opportunities to play and train in European junior level competitions on merit basis.
Delhi as for I know has both the talent and passion for football but its the factors like parental pressure, lack of proper structure, future in football as a career that plays important role. I really can't blame people here since I'm also one of them ..... I liked playing football but never really thought of it as a career and went on to complete my education and get a degree and job. Now when I think about it I really cant do anything about it although I still dream about owning a football club (a silly dream I know).
@deepak dedha The reason for majority to say is, we can spend less and work with passionate people in other states. Not saying Delhi isn't. But if people don't turn up and don't back the teams, From neutral's point of view, they assume there is not much of a passion and its so disappointing to see. But the reality is we have AIFF Morons who used to schedule I-league games at noon on a weekday. In bigger cities like Delhi maybe that's one of the reasons.
To be good in football, we don't really need to diversify many smaller countries have shown us that. That's why people here are saying if ecosystem does not exist. Don't re-invent the wheel, just invest more in passionate areas and improve year on. It saves a lot of money and time, both we don't have a lot. Repeatedly for some reason, inspite of having a younger population Delhi and Pune have been disappointing us.(Inspite of having the infrastructure)
Istiklol, despite losing last game against AGMK Olmaliq (1-2), they finished as winners on H2H basis as Al Hilal lost their last game against Shabab Al Ahli (0-2). I would say it's a commendable acheivement from Tajikistan club. No one would have imagined they will finish even in 3rd position during the draw as other 3 teams are stronger (Saudi, UAE & Uzbek clubs). Group A is definitely group of death, even last placed team also finished with 7 points. This season is a diaster for Qatar clubs. None of them qualified to next round though they have two teams finished as runners-up in their group. This best 3 runners-up & 20 teams format haunted Qatar clubs the most. Qualified teams: 3 from Iran, 2 each from Saudi & UAE and 1 club from Tajikistan. Congratulations to all of them.
I liked playing football but never really thought of it as a career and
went on to complete my education and get a degree and job. Now when I
think about it I really cant do anything about it although I still dream
about owning a football club (a silly dream I know).
i think most of us dream like this. in addition to that, i want to own a theartre complex having an IMAX screen.
Jokes apart it makes no sense to have only 1 team from an area when u know it can accomodate more and passion is there- NE, Bengal, Goa, Kerala all are hotbeds of football and if you have a proper structure you will unearth a lot of talents from these regions alone. Not saying other regions will be ignored and expansion rules are good but it can also backfire without support
Comments
I'm from Delhi and know for a fact that Delhi is a mix pot of cultures. People from every nooks and corner of country live here therefore it would be wrong to say that we import our talent from NE states. Any NE residing in Delhi or any community residing and living here from long time is as much Delhiite as I'm. Rather its our inefficient league structure that prevents talents from coming up.
Even the place where I live in Delhi is surrounded by Bengali and Uttarakhand community and we have a make shift ground that we have build on our own ...... we have installed goal posts and light posts (goes to see how crazy we are about football)
Links to ground
From my school alone there are many players currently playing at ISL or I league level. Munmun Lugun, Rakshit Dagar, Gaurav Bora, Nitesh Chhikara and Rohit kumar are some names that I remember. (and all these names are just from single school)
Here's some pics of our stars with our coach Sunil Patwal
https://scontent-del1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.18169-9/14199773_1120232974723386_8689415957296701350_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=x1Fa3seFLO4AX_Daz4o&_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.xx&oh=79a3520ed7959a5c9e83004288dd71ae&oe=60B2E88B
Local talent development is also better in Delhi as compared to other states. Many players are provided opportunities to play and train in European junior level competitions on merit basis.
Delhi as for I know has both the talent and passion for football but its the factors like parental pressure, lack of proper structure, future in football as a career that plays important role. I really can't blame people here since I'm also one of them ..... I liked playing football but never really thought of it as a career and went on to complete my education and get a degree and job. Now when I think about it I really cant do anything about it although I still dream about owning a football club
Finally some pics of my coach and school peeps
https://scontent-del1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/37016182_1812714968808513_2600986122343415808_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=uqv4SfU3fB0AX-6BapV&_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.xx&oh=cacd727cd8491cf22c70c5682b365445&oe=60B3B1BC
https://scontent-del1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.18169-9/20800335_1460202977393049_2975869849968457493_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=DvKFCuouXL4AX8bgT4Q&_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.xx&oh=160d2d12173cc8bc16ace9d9bd6dda1a&oe=60AF5B9A
https://scontent-del1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/36913882_1812708915475785_5915444206079311872_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=D3DqadNckcwAX_eefov&_nc_ht=scontent-del1-1.xx&oh=a1b50f4def7800340b1c4b153d42a130&oe=60B28B1F
God I wish I could go back to school again.
The reason for majority to say is, we can spend less and work with passionate people in other states. Not saying Delhi isn't. But if people don't turn up and don't back the teams, From neutral's point of view, they assume there is not much of a passion and its so disappointing to see. But the reality is we have AIFF Morons who used to schedule I-league games at noon on a weekday. In bigger cities like Delhi maybe that's one of the reasons.
To be good in football, we don't really need to diversify many smaller countries have shown us that. That's why people here are saying if ecosystem does not exist. Don't re-invent the wheel, just invest more in passionate areas and improve year on. It saves a lot of money and time, both we don't have a lot. Repeatedly for some reason, inspite of having a younger population Delhi and Pune have been disappointing us.(Inspite of having the infrastructure)
I would say it's a commendable acheivement from Tajikistan club. No one would have imagined they will finish even in 3rd position during the draw as other 3 teams are stronger (Saudi, UAE & Uzbek clubs). Group A is definitely group of death, even last placed team also finished with 7 points.
This season is a diaster for Qatar clubs. None of them qualified to next round though they have two teams finished as runners-up in their group. This best 3 runners-up & 20 teams format haunted Qatar clubs the most.
Qualified teams: 3 from Iran, 2 each from Saudi & UAE and 1 club from Tajikistan. Congratulations to all of them.
i think most of us dream like this. in addition to that, i want to own a theartre complex having an IMAX screen.
Istiklol (TJK) - Persepolis (IRN)
Sharjah (UAE) - Al Wahda (UAE)
Esteghlal (IRN) - Al Hilal (KSA)
Al Nassr (KSA) - Tractor (IRN)
Matches scheduled on 13-14 September.
Michael Olunga of Al Duhail finished as top-scorer with 9 goals. But his team is knocked out.
See my post here
https://forum.indianfootballnetwork.com/discussion/2744/2021-afc-champions-league-afc-cup-fc-goa-atk-mohun-bagan-fc-and-bengaluru-fc/p57