WHY ARE INDIA INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLERS NOT PAID? Gomantak Times reporter Zena Costa who also has the distinction of being Goa's only female soccer journalist seeks to reason out as to what the AIFF does with the money it recieves from sponsors and as to why the national players dont get payed. - soccernetindia.com
Indian football of late has been in the news for the right reasons. The SAFF win under Coach Syed Nayeemuddin comes as a fine end to the year 2005 with the rankings shooting up 17 places in two months. Nayeem who aims big is aware of the reality that India haven't been able to move out of the SAFF region since the glory days 1950-62. "Syed Nayeemuddin's performance would be reviewed after December's SAFF Football Championships in Pakistan" declared Dasmunshi. The SAFF it appears still remains still the 'World Cup' for the AIFF? When questioned on the same, Dasmunshi unleashes a lengthy "vision India'' sermon that concludes with a rather audacious "India will qualify for the next world Cup"!!! As national coach Nayeemuddin, prepares for the very qualifiers, the first of which will be played on 22nd February versus Japan. The AIFF is ignoring the tiny and very feasible incentives that could back that lofty statement even to the smallest amount. National players have been rather frank about feeling a little nag; a sort of unease. And why not? Has the national coach been paid his fees yet? And the players? Well, Indian internationals are not paid! If not for the finals win, the boys would receive zilch. Other than the Rs.5000 paid to the players at the camp and the Daily Allowance of 20 Dollars, Indian National players unlike their counterparts in Cricket or Hockey. Or football counterparts in tiny nations like Bangladesh, Maldives and Pakistan who pay their side 'match fee'; the same is not the case with Indian internationals. If India were to lose that SAAF final, yes, Team India would return with empty wallets. The funds, AIFF say, aren't there. What else will they say? Well, at least that's one statement where they stand unswerving! AIFF administration in the hands of politicians has resulted in politicking a plenty but very little "administration. For years now, there are no financial spur for Indian players during trips out of the country. Payments per match and bonuses non-existence. The AIFF in the past could not retain sponsorship deals because of unfulfilled promises and could perhaps get away with saying there was not enough money to pay the national team. But can AIFF make the same "No Money'' claim today? Besides monetary gain from smaller sponsors for varied tourneys, registrations, transfers et all, The current season only, AIFF is richer by Rs 500 crore television contract with Zee Sports, ONGC is pumping 40 crore into the NFL alone. The FIFA grant for 'Vision India' approximately 3 crores? Where is all this money going? (And one has stated only three sources of income.) Can the AIFF treasury not shell out say a petty Rs.10, 000 per player per international match? Why blame clubs refusing to release players? Why call players opting out of national selection 'unpatriotic'. After all, a footballer bread and butter years are limited. If a gifted player say like Mahesh Gowali and Climax Lawrence now mainstay in the national squad opt to play a domestic tourney for Mahindra United or Dempo Sports Club respectively where their services and talent is rewarded, can one call them unpatriotic? An internal AIFF audit in 1996, Indian football's richest year revealed that Rs. 2.5 crores could not be accounted for. This resulted in a lawsuit against Dasmunshi and his cronies. Financial irregularities reaching FIFA resulted in $250,000 (approx. Rs. 1.5 crores) FIFA Youth Development grant to India for 1999 being frozen. in 1999 was frozen, following complaints that AIFF officials were siphoning off the grant for purposes other than football. This was of course swept under the carpet. Financial incentive goes a long way to boost morale and hence performance. To state a case in point, when Alberto Colaco was elected secretary in 2000,he introduced the' graded payment system' for national players. Each player was paid Rs.25,000 basic pay. In addition Rs.15,000 0r Rs.10,0000 was paid per player for every win, the sum varying on quality of opposition. This lead to marginal improvement . For the first time in World Cup qualifiers, India beat a country ranked 60 places ahead of them (UAE ranked 64 as compared to India's 124) and finished with three wins, two draws and a solitary defeat in their campaign. Sadly, this system seems to have been a boned even as Colaco who introduced it continues as Secretary. The qualifiers are around the corner and what better time than boost the team with implementing the same? The games image with the nationalistic middle class comes a cropper. Indian youth would rather edge on Brazil or Argentina than root for team India. With Zee Sports 'avante garde' coverage, headed by a Brit CEO who has produced FIFA World Cups, eloquent commentary team, and, of course, Zeebras, is a cause to hope that it would get India to identify with the game once more, bring the crowds. While Zee be lauded for coming forward to promote Indian football, it is a bit premature to get overtly excited. Zee will have to bulldoze AIFF into major structural changes, massive grassroots and metro-development programs. Sport is hot and marketable merchandise. But, a brand can be created only if the product is extraordinary. Here, the onus is on the AIFF to make Indian football put on display perceptible and tangible worth. Only then can Zee really succeed in its endeavor. that takes us to the point that monetary incentives have proven to go a long way to galvanize excellence. So where is the money going? Why is the AIFF playing bankrupt? Why are India internationals not being paid? One hears that Mr. Blatter, President of soccers governing body FIFA, will be visiting Delhi to inaugurate AIFF's swanky new headquarters. Guess Blatter will be given yet another dose of 'Vision India' speeches by the 'visionaries' of AIFF and go back content. Will someone please enlighten the good men. Courtesy: Zena Costa, Gomantak Times __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com