Ironies never cease in Indian sports. More so in Indian football, considered a common man's game but inarguably the most popular and watched sport in the world. On the one hand one sees the euphoria of an Indian win over lowly placed Myanmar and on the other hand is the total disinterest that Santosh trophy national championship evokes. On the one hand, fans go gaga over the money-rich and glamourous Indian Super League and in total contrast is the way the less patronised but more serious professional I-league is viewed.

If that is not enough look at the priorities. We seem to be a country clearly keen on hosting big football events and enjoy the fan-base without seriously (at least nothing concrete is seen yet) working on a structured programme to strengthen the base of football in the country. Remember the Nehru Cup international tournament? When it was launched to give fillip to Indian football it was given a high rating even by FIFA. But the tournament meandered, lost spice and eventually is virtually defunct now. The next highlight is going to be the FIFA World U-17 championship. In a few months it would become a reality and now AIFF is already aiming to bid the FIFA World Under-20 next! The way the Indian U-17 team is getting prepared though is a sad commentary what with a leading coach like the German Nikolai Adams shown the exit at the most inopportune time. There were a few like former star Bhaichung Bhutia who felt the issue of the Coach should have been amicably resolved. Because, as a player once only he knows the agony of a midcourse change at the helm. Indeed, where are we going in Indian football, one is left to ponder!

The recent Santosh Trophy championship held in Goa is another case in point of how AIFF keeps dithering on this one-time prestigious event. Time was when winning this glittering trophy was considered a symbol of supremacy in Indian football. May be on paper it still is from the way the final outcome was reported to the effect that Bengal had won it now for the 32nd time, a record unlikely to be matched by any state or institution in the country! But sad was the way it was organised. Goa has always hosted major football programmes at the Fatorda stadium in Margao. That venue has a history in football and been the venue not only for national but international matches. And yet the matches in the Championship was not conducted there, rather it was spread around as though a league was on. Once upon a time a Santosh trophy event would spell a festival, more so in football-crazy lands like Goa, Bengal and Kerala! And this time even though Goa was a team in the final media report suggested a perceptible disinterest.

In early years, it is said the national team was given shape by watching and picking the best players from the National championship. Today it is an event perhaps for the also-rans among players or those who are not found their way to the I-league clubs. How does this make this event any relevant, one wonders. True this question has been asked on many an occasion. Why, the AIFF even saw a former coach like Bob Houghton describing the Santosh trophy tournament a scrap event that should not find a place in the Indian calendar. How will he know of Indian football history or traditions to have any feelings? His job after all also involved ensuring that the national team had no injured players, in particular the key ones. However, it must be said, playing in national championship was once mentioned with a touch of pride and in some sports like cricket for instance the parent body itself makes adjustments to the calendar to ensure that all players including the stars take part in the Ranji championship. Perspectives differ, as they say.

Be that as it may, what was intriguing was that despite all the scaling down of the Championship, not only in its content but format also, not to speak of team formation _ no I-league players, three U-20 players etc._ traditional teams still remained ahead of the rest! At least in that respect there was nothing lopsided. Bengal was there and so too Goa. But whatever happened to others states like Kerala or Punjab or even the much talked of north-east team like Mizoram for instance? Kerala, from all reports, had gone in for detailed preparations and the team was sent out to Goa with lot of fanfare. Indeed, this was an opportunity for Kerala to go for the title and become a clear third in the honours list behind Bengal and Punjab. Surprising that in the end, the team was not able to reflect the depth of interest and talent in the state.

Is it an indication that the ground level growth of talents or structured training at different age levels in the State have not been to desired level, one will never know? But for Bengal and Goa, protagonists of the I-league perhaps would jump in to say being a participant in the national league scheme, galvanises football standards overall! If only this was backed by tangible results in various age groups, there is bound to be meaning in such claims. But then that is how Indian football prospects have been mostly- claims and counter claims.