Oscar winner, Resul Pookutty to launch Indian Football Development Society this week
Oscar winner, Resul Pookuttyu00a0to launch Indian Football Development Society this week
India's Cricket World Cup triumph gave the nation a massive reason to celebrate. But Indian football fans fail to understand why a nation that can produce a world-conquering bunch of cricketers, cannot put together a team that makes it at least to the qualifiers of the football World Cup.
Some such football enthusiasts have come together and formed an NGO, Indian Football Development Society (IFDS), with the aim of putting Indian football on the global map once again.
Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty is one of the pioneers of the project, which will be formally launched on April 15 in Mumbai.
'We want India'
"Our objective is to confirm Indian participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and to acquire 2026 FIFA World Cup hosting rights," Resul, who was conferred with the Padma Shri Award in 2010, told MiD DAY on Saturday.
"It is possible and I completely believe India has the potential. If we can do well in cricket, why not in football?
"Around 150 nations participate in the football World Cup and the nation with the second largest population in the world cannot find a spot. It's a shame that we aren't even playing qualifying matches. This is unacceptable as football is played extensively throughout the country." Much like the rags to riches script of the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire', which bagged him an Oscar for Best Sound Mixing, Resul faced many hardships to get to where he is today. And Brazilian football legend Pele has been Resul's inspiration throughout.
"Pele is my biggest inspiration. As a youngster I read Pele's biography and it moved me. Pele faced many hardships like I did. It motivated me to do well in life," said Resul, who grew up in poverty and in a village without electricity in Kerala.
Resul played the beautiful game in his village as a young lad and he still nurtures a love for the sport. He believes it won't be difficult to revive the sport. "In the last 20-25 years cricket has taken us over. But people still love their football. Even cricketers and Bollywood stars follow the sport and would be willing to help for the cause," he said.
Youth policyResul said IFDS would focus on developing youth football.
"Our first step will be to spark interest among the youth. We will hold football camps all over the country and select 50 children and train them, with the aim that they make the World Cup 2022 Indian squad.
"To guide them we have people connected with Indian football. Ex-India players IM Vijayan, CC Jacob and current star Bhaichung Bhutia are involved in the project. We have ensured we have the right guidance. Their contribution is immense towards taking the game forward."
The camps would begin later this month. On IFDS's plans to build world class infrastructure, Resul said: "We are planning to build new stadiums in order to boost our credentials of hosting the 2026 World Cup.
But for all this to work, first the sport has to be popularised with the masses.u00a0 "Indian middle class participation is key and if that happens then we'll have enough sponsors, revenue and the sport can blossom just like cricket."
