Changed condition of Delhi football?
When Shaji took over the reins of Delhi football five years ago, some club officials raised questions about his age and experience. But the same person is now going to present the claim for the top post of AIFF. It would not be wrong to say that Shaji has gathered the courage to take the high jump on the basis of the earnings of the last five years.
Indian football has changed a lot in the last few years at the top level but why hasn’t the level of the game improved? Why Indian football is not able to make its mark even in Asian countries and where is the shortage? The answers to these questions are not even with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which itself is surrounded by questions.
But Shaji Prabhakaran, president of the Delhi Football Association, directly tells the federation the root of all the turmoil. It is noteworthy that Shaji has launched a different kind of campaign against the activities of the Federation. He believes that when the parent organization of football does not show seriousness and does not work honestly, then how can any sport and player be good!
When Shaji took over the reins of Delhi football five years ago, some club officials raised questions about his age and experience. But the same person is now going to present the claim for the top post of AIFF. It would not be wrong to say that Shaji has gathered the courage to take the high jump on the basis of the earnings of the last five years. Even though the number of opponents in local football is not less, but a large section, especially the players, believe that Delhi’s football is changing.
Efforts are on to improve football from the grassroots to the above level. If you have a cursory glance at the Indian National Football, then the condition of all the member units of the Federation is dire. Barring four-six states, the Federation and all its member units are going through a bad phase. Till a few years back, Delhi’s football was also going through a drag. The efforts of dedicated office bearers like Umesh Sood, Nasir Ali, YS Chauhan, Narendra Bhatia, Magan Singh Patwal, Hem Chand did not show color because the pace of progress was slow. But the Delhi Soccer Association may have caught the right track after consistent efforts. So since the reins are with the young mind.
For the last few years, DSA had been organizing A, B and Senior Division leagues following its age old pattern. Now along with the C division, events for younger age groups are also being organized. But with the launch of the Premier League, Delhi has become the first state in the country to have achieved the status of a full-fledged football event.
Some well-known football players and administrators of the country are also saying that Indian football needs young mind and professional thinking. Leaders like Praful Patel could not take Indian football out of the pit because they were baking political bread under the guise of football by walking on a worn-out track.
The country’s football experts and former players want a president who does not use the game for political ambition. Since Shaji has nothing to do with politics at the moment, he can be accepted. If he becomes the president of the federation, he can give the right direction to Indian football. Just like he has started a change in Delhi’s football.
It is true that Shaji is supported by a hardworking and dedicated youth team and the youth team of Team DSA and Football Delhi are actively contributing to the improvement of local football. As a result, Delhi has started appearing on the Indian football map. Although this may have happened before, most of the former office-bearers were either sluggish or kept their club’s interest paramount.
