NFL's foreign strikers: step forward or own goal? [The Indian Express * April 28, 2002]
T h e d o m i n a n c e of foreigners in the score-sheets has put home-grown players in the shade. By MICKY AIGNER THEY CAME, they saw and conquered. Ghanaian Yusif Yakubu (Churchill Brothers) and Brazilian Baretto (Mohun Bagan), the top two scorers in the recently concluded National Football League, netted 33 goals between them. While it brought in rich dividents for their clubs (Bagan went on to win the league) it has raised one vital question: Has Indian football -- and have Indian footballers -- gained in the bargain? Baichung Bhutia's success and IM Vijayan's brilliance have been noticed abroad, but such successes are few and far between. The domestic league is peppered with strikers who can never wear the Indian jersey; the top scorer in each of the past four seasons has been a foreigner (see box). ------------------------- Clubs have made the NFL too commercial, putting aside the concept of producing caliber players for India. What's the use of laurels when one cannot produce? -- India's goal-keeping coach Brahmanand ------------------------- Ask what went wrong and a host of theories surface. Over-dependence on foreigners, a short-sighted attitude of coaches who preferred ready-made material from abroad rather than groom local talent. As competition grew, so too did the demand on clubs; it became easier to shop around than grow at home. It may sound odious -- and self-defeating -- to draw comparisons but the same story plays out in Europe. The arguments have been going on for years in England, where the national squad lacks a mid-field -- or even a goal-keeper -- to match those of its top three clubs. The most obvious fallout is cosmopolitan Chelsea, where few English footballers stand a chance. The club and the AIFF are to blame, says India's goal-keeping coach Brahmanand Shankwalkar. "Clubs have made the NFL too commercial, putting aside the concept of producing caliber players for India. What's the use of laurels when one cannot produce? Why blame the clubs, asks Churchill Brothers owner Joaquim Alemao. "Blame the federation, whose rules permit each team to play four foreign players in a match." The reason, he says, is pure business. "We, or for that matter any team, spend a huge sum getting players and I don't suppose targeting a title after doing so is an issue." Six years -- the life of the NFL to date -- is enough time for Indian footballers to hone their natural skills, says Shyam Thapa, whose trademark bicycle kick made him a feared striker in the 1970s. Curbs are needed on foreign players. One way of doing this, he says, is by making grooming of players a criterion for the best coach award. India has, over the years, seen class players in Cheema Okerie, Majid Baskar, Jamshed Nasseri, Chibuzor Nwakanma, Percy Mawse, Stephan Abarowei, Sunday Seah to name a few, but has churned out very few to match their potential. "The league is overcrowded now and our players have been relegated to also-rans," says Thapa. For the record, the sixth NFL saw 11 foreigners score more than five goals for their team, which included four hat-tricks (two by Yakubu, and one each by Abdul Ganiyu (Churchill), Mike Okoro (ITI) and Akeem (Tollygunge). For the record, both Yakubu and Baretto are unsure of how long they'll continue in India; they say they wish to keep their options open. But for every Barretto, there will be another Brazilian walking in, for every Yakubu another from Africa. Thapa asks, "How do you expect our boys to learn then? The work is already done the moment they get their chance." The ball now seems to be in the AIFF's court. It needs to act fast. It could implement its idea of a much-delayed under-19 league -- aimed at developing a second line of attack for each club. (ENDS) ********************************************************************* INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR IN NATIONAL LEAGUE ********************************************************************* 1st NFL: Baichung Bhutia (East Bengal) 14 goals 2nd NFL: Raman Vijayan (FCK) 10 goals; CHIMA OKERI (Mohun Bagan; Nigeria) 9 goals; Baichung Bhutia (E Bengal) 8 goals and Chibuzor Nawakanma (Churchill: Nigeria) 7 goals. 3rd NFL: PHILIP MENSAH (Churchill, Ghana) 11 goals; Raman Vijayan (EB) 10 goals; Bruno Coutinho (Salgaocar) 9 goals; Md Najeeb (FCK) 8 goals. 4th NFL: IGOR SHKVYRIN (Bagan; Uzbekistan) 11 goals; Francis Silveira (Churchill; 10 goals); Roque Barretto (Churchill); Sylvester Ignatius (SBT), Md Najeeb (M&M), ISSAC TONDO (FCK; Liberia) 8 each. 5th NFL: JOSE BARETTO (Bagan, Brazil) 14 goals; IGOR SHKVYRIN (Churchill; Uzbekistan) 12 goals: RC Prakash (Bagan) 10 goals; Hardeep Gill (JCT); OMOLOJA OLEKAN (East Bengal, Nigeria); SUNDAY SEAH (FCK, Liberia) 8 goals each. 6th NFL: YUSIF YAKUBU (Churchill; Ghana) 17 goals; JOSE BARETTO (Bagan, Brazil) 16 goals; RUI WANDERLEY WEIS (Vasco; Brazil) 10 goals; AKEN ABDUL ALEM (Tollygunge; Nigeria), SUNDAY SEAH (Salgaocar, Liberia) 9 each. *** =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? 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