India's performance in FIFA U17 Women's World Cup 2022 and how we can improve Indian football

Image source- Olympics

India recently hosted FIFA U7 Women's World Cup, which Spain won defeating Columbia and Nigeria being placed third.

Unfortunately, Team India lost all 3 scheduled matches in the tournament. Though the players represent all of India, we cannot blame them.

In India, cricket is treated like God while other sports and players are often neglected. Most of the money, promotions and sponsorships still go to cricket tournaments and players, be it from government or private firms. People got to know about Neeraj Chopra only after he won a medal for India at the Olympics (including me). Due to no promotions or media interviews before his win at the Olympics, hardly a few people knew. 

Coming back to football, what we could have done to improve our games and chances of winning some matches? Or as the past cannot be changed, what changes we can bring for improving the games in future tournaments, for all gender, ages and physically challenged teams at the national and club levels in India?

Like BCCI for cricket, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) needs to put a lot of effort into the development of football, right from the grassroots level. Giving opportunities to young kids, of all economic backgrounds, a chance to play football at least till their late teenage (15-17), their coaching done under certified, reliable and empathetic coaches, and selecting the bests for teams at higher levels (starting from inter-schools or district) for tournaments while letting others play even as a hobby (paying for coaching and kits of kids who cannot afford). 

Players at the national level should be provided with the best coaches, nutrition, psychologists, physiotherapists, and management. As stated often, more friendly matches with better-ranked teams for exposure and development. These matches can help find where we are lagging and help us improve there, so it hopefully does not get repeated at tournaments.

In my opinion, officials at AIFF have to be filled with passion to help develop football in India. The AIFF should be free of any political interference, at any post. What I think is major posts should be taken up by former footballers, like Bhaichung Bhutia, I.M Vijayan, Renedy Singh, etc. who know the situation at the grassroots and national level and care enough to solve those issues and bring positive changes. Take this as an example of a passionate teacher who has the zeal to teach and improve the lives of students in their own possible ways and the Indian education system who is not afraid to point out the flaws in the system. Compare it with those who are doing it just for the sake of teaching and who got no other option, leaving no positive impact and students will lose interest as well. We need people who have an interest and knowledge in football and the passion to bring a positive change in the Indian football scenario, wanting to take it to great heights and hope to win major football tournaments, including FIFA, for all the teams.

My opinion would be, henceforward, before trying to host FIFA, we can try hosting international friendly matches, and tournaments at the Asian level (like AFC) and like we hosted a Tri-nation tournament hosted in India back in 2018. We need to first get exposure with better-ranked clubs/countries at the Asian level (for tournaments) before we move to teams worldwide.

We need to develop an interest in football in regions where it is not touched or doesn't have much football presence. Bringing football at the grassroots level in these places, pan India can help bring up more talents in football, who can later be trained in skills and represent clubs/India.

More sponsorships and media exposure to football and players, and support from Indian fans, can help Indian football grow. The passion and support of fans can give moral support to the players, to play and give their best. Buy tickets (whichever is affordable) and visit stadiums to watch matches whenever possible. The feeling of watching matches at stadiums can never be replaced by watching on screen, no matter how much technology advances. Let's give our best support to all the teams and our favourite clubs (while not disrespecting players and fans of other clubs)  and watch matches at stadiums, so maybe, Sunil Chhetri will not have to ask via videos again to attend matches at stadiums.