AIFF hasn't done anything for futsal: Luis Figo
By Amit Chaudhary
Premier Futsal, which claimed to have hosted a 'successful' first edition last year and promised a 'bigger and better' second edition this year, would have still gone unnoticed had it not been for football legends Luis Figo and Ryan Giggs.
Premier Futsal, a 'private league', was termed 'unauthorised and unofficial' by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the national body for football and futsal in India, last year — a stand it reiterated on Thursday. Though the league flaunted 'support' from sports minister Vijay Goel, whom they met earlier in the day, what it actually means in terms of favourable environment for the league is still unclear. Futsal is a five-a-side mini version of football.
"It's always a positive to get the support of the minister as he is the person who has an idea about sports in the country. He is the one who understands that sports should be promoted," Premier Futsal president Figo said at the launch of the league's talent hunt programme 'Launch Pad'.
The quality of domestic players dictates the success of a league and it should worry the organisers if they are denied access to the vast pool of young talent available in the country. But they claim they have nothing to worry about AIFF's stance.
"There is no national team for futsal. So the guys who are joining us were never going to play for the AIFF," Dinesh Raj, managing director of the Premier Futsal, told ET.
"We are the people who are going to be selecting the team and giving them the opportunity. We also pay them salary equal to others (footballers). So we are creating an ecosystem for the sport in the country."
However, president Figo is not happy about the situation. "We are a private event and whatever the federation wants to do against us, it’s not the right thing because we are not doing anything wrong," he said.
"Of course, we have some issues with the federation because they don't support. The federation hasn’t done anything for the sport in the country. But we can. We have invested a lot of money to promote the sport. We will go ahead with our idea to promote futsal in the country and to create tours for the youngsters to practice the sport. Legally, we are not doing anything wrong. In that sense, the federation can't do anything to stop the event," he added.
In a country dominated by one sport (cricket) and where the others, including football, are jostling for a small piece of the cake that is the Indian market, how viable is futsal? Will it be able to survive for long enough to create a space for itself and acquire a fan base? "Why not?" asked Figo. "If we made the first season (why can't we do it again). It went well and we had a lot of professional futsalers playing."
Giggs, one of the marquee players, believes this format can be of great help for a country like India where there is a shortage of infrastructure for football. "While growing up, I would play in the streets. That doesn’t happen anymore but that’s where I used to learn my skills and that's where I used to spend all my hours after coming from school. Practicing, practicing and practicing. Futsal can give you that because you only need a small amount of players, a small pitch and it’s more accessible."
The previous season lasted just one week, but season 2 has been extended to two weeks with 27 matches, instead of 15. The one thing that the organisers have done right from the beginning is the emphasis on recruitment of Indian players – although most are amateurs found through the talent hunt.
Several marquee players, including Falcao, Ronaldinho (who left midway), Paul Scholes, Giggs, Michel Salgado and Hernan Crespo were part of the last season and Figo hinted that more big names are expected to join the league this year but refused to reveal any details.
Premier Futsal, which claimed to have hosted a 'successful' first edition last year and promised a 'bigger and better' second edition this year, would have still gone unnoticed had it not been for football legends Luis Figo and Ryan Giggs.
Premier Futsal, a 'private league', was termed 'unauthorised and unofficial' by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the national body for football and futsal in India, last year — a stand it reiterated on Thursday. Though the league flaunted 'support' from sports minister Vijay Goel, whom they met earlier in the day, what it actually means in terms of favourable environment for the league is still unclear. Futsal is a five-a-side mini version of football.
"It's always a positive to get the support of the minister as he is the person who has an idea about sports in the country. He is the one who understands that sports should be promoted," Premier Futsal president Figo said at the launch of the league's talent hunt programme 'Launch Pad'.
The quality of domestic players dictates the success of a league and it should worry the organisers if they are denied access to the vast pool of young talent available in the country. But they claim they have nothing to worry about AIFF's stance.
"There is no national team for futsal. So the guys who are joining us were never going to play for the AIFF," Dinesh Raj, managing director of the Premier Futsal, told ET.
"We are the people who are going to be selecting the team and giving them the opportunity. We also pay them salary equal to others (footballers). So we are creating an ecosystem for the sport in the country."
However, president Figo is not happy about the situation. "We are a private event and whatever the federation wants to do against us, it’s not the right thing because we are not doing anything wrong," he said.
"Of course, we have some issues with the federation because they don't support. The federation hasn’t done anything for the sport in the country. But we can. We have invested a lot of money to promote the sport. We will go ahead with our idea to promote futsal in the country and to create tours for the youngsters to practice the sport. Legally, we are not doing anything wrong. In that sense, the federation can't do anything to stop the event," he added.
In a country dominated by one sport (cricket) and where the others, including football, are jostling for a small piece of the cake that is the Indian market, how viable is futsal? Will it be able to survive for long enough to create a space for itself and acquire a fan base? "Why not?" asked Figo. "If we made the first season (why can't we do it again). It went well and we had a lot of professional futsalers playing."
Giggs, one of the marquee players, believes this format can be of great help for a country like India where there is a shortage of infrastructure for football. "While growing up, I would play in the streets. That doesn’t happen anymore but that’s where I used to learn my skills and that's where I used to spend all my hours after coming from school. Practicing, practicing and practicing. Futsal can give you that because you only need a small amount of players, a small pitch and it’s more accessible."
The previous season lasted just one week, but season 2 has been extended to two weeks with 27 matches, instead of 15. The one thing that the organisers have done right from the beginning is the emphasis on recruitment of Indian players – although most are amateurs found through the talent hunt.
Several marquee players, including Falcao, Ronaldinho (who left midway), Paul Scholes, Giggs, Michel Salgado and Hernan Crespo were part of the last season and Figo hinted that more big names are expected to join the league this year but refused to reveal any details.
