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| SPORTS TRIBUNE | Saturday, August 24, 2002, Chandigarh, India |
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Indian football back on track? Srinath deserves a better deal HOCKEY TEEING-OFF |
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Indian football back on track? AN Indian football team has finally won a tournament outside the periphery of the SAARC compound. That is an achievement in itself. The last time a team from India won a tournament was some 28 years ago. It was the Asian Youth Championship held in Bangkok in 1974. But Shabbir Ali’s team was not an outright winner. It shared the title with Iran following a 2-2 draw and if one remembers correctly the Shah of Iran is reported to have presented a car (a Mercedes!) to each member of the country’s team. Shabbir Ali and his boys did not get anything on those lines from India and perhaps that was the reason the country never won a tournament after that. The title win in the LG Gold Cup in Vietnam appears to have done wonders to the Indian football psyche. It has helped surface the till now dormant feelings for the game which, despite the media hype for cricket, is the most popular sport in the country. Overnight everyone is talking about the great Indian revival in football. Everyone is also talking about Stephen Constantine, the England coach. The laudatory references to Constantine relate to his positive approach which has helped gain positive results. Positive obviously means tough tackling and perhaps the coach from England has at last managed to put his finger on the one thing that had been lacking with the national teams. The title win in Vietnam will certainly galvanise Indian football though it would be wrong to build too much on the effort put in during the invitation tournament there. It was for the first time an Indian team had been invited to a tournament till recently dominated by Indonesia. And also it was the tournament where with the exception of Vietnam Jr the other teams were ranked higher than India in the FIFA ladder. That India managed to come out victorious in a tournament where others were more equal is of very great significance though it must also be remembered that Thailand, one of the contestants reportedly did not send its main team. For all that it was the first time in many years that an Indian team did not allow itself to be overwhelmed by superior rated teams. The victory in Vietnam and the ratings of the others in the LG Tournament should be an eye-opener for the All-India Football Federation. How is it that Vietnam, a country devastated by war, was able to achieve a higher rating than India winner of the Asian Games title on two occasions? There is also the question of Singapore, a mere dot on the map, earning a more favourable placing than India in the world football map. These are pertinent questions and need to be studied. While India has steadily slipped downwards from mid-70s the other countries in the continent appear to have made tremendous gains. If the result of the LG Tournament is to be taken as a yardstick for future reference then India could well have said to have turned the tide. The AIFF and many of the past luminaries appear to lay much importance on this victory. Perhaps they are right and the team, virtually the same which did duty at Vietnam, is to perform in the forthcoming Asian Games at Busan. That of course will be real test. The euphoria on the homecoming and the rhetoric which continued for days after the team’s arrival must, one hopes, have a practical side to it. So many people including some of the biggest names in Indian football, appear to have called the Vietnam effect a turning point in Indian football. What exactly are the gains from the LG trophy? For one it was a team which comprised 10 uncapped players and it is to Constantine’s credit that he has transformed them from being virtually unknown figures to heroes. That is a very great achievement. And the tournament could have given the Indian football scene new stars with one of them, Abhishek Yadav, a striker, likely to be a force on the football fields of India for years to come. The Vietnam effect must be made to last for Indian football. The title win here should be viewed as a prop and used as a springboard for better performance in the future. Perhaps the win in Vietnam could act as a spur and India would soon be welcome back into the main tournaments at the Asian level, in particular the Merdeka where it once used to make regular appearance. And also the Asian Football Confederation appears to have opened the floodgates of progress. With South Korea and Japan having successfully brought the World Cup to the continent, football has been given a rare fillip. The AFC has rightly taken the cue and is planning to start an Asian Football League. The league will have eight teams directly seeded into the main list. The other eight will come through elimination process on regional basis. There will be some 43 teams fighting for the eight slots in the main league. India is certainly included in the scheme of things with Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers, winners and runners-up of the National League, included in the 43 teams fighting for eight places. The winner of the AFC League will get $5 lakh dollars. Quite a big amount to fight for. |
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Srinath
deserves a better deal HOW ironic! Legendary cricket figures firmly believe that Javagal Srinath still has a lot to offer to Indian cricket as a pace bowler. Skipper Saurav Ganguly has, more than once, made it clear that the Karnataka bowler still had a lot of cricket left in him. But those at the helm of cricket in the country think otherwise. That Srinath no longer has the firepower to soften up the best of batsmen with his blistering pace is not in doubt. And, after having played for the country for a decade it would only be preposterous to believe that he can be as energetic as someone like Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra or someone 10 years younger to him. But after serving Indian cricket for nearly a decade Srinath possesses a wealth of experience. This was much in evidence in the Test matches in West Indies where Srinath, who sacrificed his blistering pace and opted to pitch the ball up in the “corridor of uncertainty”, looked a better bowler perfectly at home with his craft. Bowling with guile he commanded respect from batsmen. To be a fast bowler is an extremely demanding job, more so in Test cricket. And the job becomes difficult all the more if one is playing for a country like India which has always faced paucity of quality new ball bowlers as well as support bowlers. India overhauled a huge target of 325 runs to record a historic victory over England at Lord’s. The stupendous victory plunged the cricket-crazy nation in a state of euphoria. Comparisons began to be drawn with the best-ever victories recorded by the country. Even in the run-up to the final India recorded impressive victories. But more often than not it were the batsmen who won matches for India chasing big totals or setting huge targets. Amidst the unprecedented jubilation the performance of the bowlers never came under spotlight. Legendary allrounder Ian Botham recently wondered why Srinath, the “best new ball bowler India has” at the moment, was missing from the touring Indian team. Srinath’s career of late has been dogged by injuries. It is a testimony to his unbounded enthusiasm for the game and wish to serve the country that even after a major surgery to his bowling shoulder that Srinath by dint of sheer hard work and discipline was able to regain his peak fitness and looked every bit the Srinath of the old. The world over players have opted to play the form of cricket they feel comfortable in. Players like Jonty Rhodes, Deryll Cullinan and Graham Thorpe have decided to play either Test matches or one-dayers. And cricket authorities of their countries have respected their decisions. But Srinath’s international career has come under a cloud ever since he announced that he would not play in Tests but would rather concentrate on one-day matches. Nothing should be held against him if after playing as a frontline bowler for a decade he feels that his body or mind was not in a position to continue to take the heavy load that Test cricket entails. Why should anybody feel piqued by this? Srinath is known to be a wholehearted performer who has always believed in going all out when playing for the country. He has shouldered the huge burden of being the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack for so long with aplomb. Zaheer Khan, Aashish Nehra and Ajit Agarkar have been doing a fine job as pace bowlers and have contributed towards the recent victories notched up by the team. But the fact remains that Agarkar and Nehra are highly injury prone as well as inconsistent. The risk of injury becomes grave all the more because of the hectic calendar of the India team. The policy of keeping the premier speedster out of the squad even if he wants to play one-day matches only can have adverse consequences for the country. Srinath, the most successful pace bowler the country has produced after peerless Kapil Dev, should be allowed to play the type of cricket he feels comfortable in. |
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HOCKEY FORMER hockey international Aslam Sher Khan, a key member of the Indian team who won the gold in the 1975 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, is back in Indian hockey, albeit in a new role. As manager of the Indian team for the prestigious Champions Trophy being held at Cologne in Germany from August 31, Aslam will be keen to wipe out bitter memories of the tenth World Cup earlier this year. Sitting in the stands along with his wife, the hockey veteran had witnessed Indian hockey plummetting the depths in the very city where he, under the captaincy of Ajitpal Singh, had made history 27 years ago. After the World Cup debacle at Kuala Lumpur in February-March this year, the Champions Trophy is the first major test for the refurbished team, and Aslam is keen that the story is not repeated. In a brief chat with The Tribune following the Indian debacle at Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, Aslam outlined certain deficiencies while asserting that targets should be realistic. “Expectations for the 10th World Cup had risen beyond imagination. The players were under pressure to perform, and the coach was fooling around with a computer," Aslam Sher Khan said with a heavy heart after India crashed to the tenth position. “Basically, the hockey-playing countries can be grouped into three categories. The top category includes the top three countries followed by middle-rung teams like England and Malaysia. In the third category are teams like India and Poland besides others. We must, therefore, aim at entering the second category and stop talking about gold in the Olympics for the time being. Building a strong team which can take on any B level team should be our priority,” Aslam said. Commenting on the role of the goalkeeper, the former Olympian said a lot depended on the custodian in modern hockey. " If the goalkeeper rises to the occasion, a team's job is half done.” Referring to various hockey training centres functioning in the country, Aslam said the need of the hour was to ensure that the right people were at the helm. "The nurseries are drying up and this is definitely a cause for concern.” Regarding the performance of European outfits, Aslam Sher Khan felt that rules were framed to suit them. "The rule allowing 18 players was framed to provide good bench strength in hot weather conditions which do not suit the Europeans. Nevertheless, their coaching on modern lines is still based on human dependability although computerised techniques are very much in vogue. However, our system broke down during the World Cup mainly due to over-dependence on computerised training,” said the veteran Olympian. Regarding India's attack, Aslam felt that the forward-line should have stretched beyond the average three-goal level. "Scoring three goals and conceding an equal number on an average was one of the reasons why India finished a poor tenth at the World Cup," felt the former hockey star, who is now looking forward to an improved Indian showing at Cologne. |
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TEEING-OFF JEEV Milkha Singh could not make the ‘cut’ in the recent tournament of the Japan circuit. He did not seem in his usual exuberant mood. He had a reason to feel out of place because his mind was in the USA where his mother, Nirmal, was recovering from a major surgery. It was indeed great that he figured in the competition. May be, he was directed by his parents that he should continue with the circuit. On the day of departure from Delhi to New York, Milkha Singh was confident that things would work out for the better as he had faith in God. He also said that he would try not to disturb Jeev’s schedule in Japan. In the same tournament, Daniel Chopra flattered to deceive. He raised visions of making a top finish in the contest. He was among leaders. But he faltered on the concluding two days and made a very pathetic landing eventually. Chopra, who had his early golf at Delhi, provided yet another example of Indians not having faith in their ability and skill. Had he played his usual brand of golf on the last two days, he would have finished among first five. Trials with a difference The Indian Golf Union Ladies Section’s trials for eight leading golfers at different courses did not prove fruitful as players were unable to raise their performance level. As a result, the three-member team for the World Cup (Espertio Santo) was not chosen by the selectors. The yardstick was 18 over par for six rounds. Some of the contestants were within range of the qualifying standard. But, in the final round, they succumbed to pressure. Men or women it is the same old story that Indians falter under pressure. India’s leading golfer, Irina Brar’s doings during the last 12 months have not been as praiseworthy as they ought to have been. Her technique is sound and she is a very dedicated player. She will soon be in USA for study-cum-golf training. Many budding stars have had training in the USA and in other golfing countries. Most of them fade away on return. They come back with different accent and different technique. But they are not of much use. The players’ success in international arena is possible only when they develop confidence in themselves. They have to have will to rise to the occasion under pressure. The Indian women’s hockey team in Commonwealth Games emerged on top only after staging a remarkable come back against South Africa. The Indian women were trailing 0-3 when they rallied to beat South Africa. This provided them confidence and went on to win the gold medal. One outing made the girls women. The IGU’s calendar for men, women and juniors has to be much stronger than it has been. Amateur golf continues to be amateur in sum and substance. It has got to be lifted out of inertia. There has to be a long drawn-out programme and planning to raise general standard of amateur golf. Thanks to Professional Golfers Association of India (PGAI), the pro calendar is far and wide. Thanks again to Tiger Sports Marketing outfit, the events are being publicised. Pros are happy and so are sponsors. The IGU has to take a leaf out of the book of the PGAI to promote golf for juniors, who are the champions in the making. |
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FORMER hockey international Aslam Sher Khan, a key member of the Indian team who won the gold in the 1975 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, is back in Indian hockey, albeit in a new role. As manager of the Indian team for the prestigious Champions Trophy being held at Cologne in Germany from August 31, Aslam will be keen to wipe out bitter memories of the tenth World Cup earlier this year.
Srinath announced his retirement from Test cricket immediately after the West Indies Test series and made it known that he would concentrate on one-day cricket with an eye on the World Cup early next year. After that he did not figure in the one-day series in West Indies which India won. He was not considered for the NatWest Trophy in England although he had rich experience of playing in the English conditions having earlier toured that country with the Indian team and played county cricket as well. India went on to win the tri-series. After Srinath was ignored for the ICC Champions Trophy slated to be held Sri Lanka from September 12 the genial bowler signed a contract to play for Leicestershire.