It is indeed a welcome event to see two footballers fighting to become the AIFF President. What is your vision for the game, as it is going to be extremely challenging to get the game back on track in the near future?
Yes, it will be challenging and hence it has to be done. As someone who is deeply invested in the game in various capacities, I know what has to be done. Football players come out of states and districts and if you look at the current situation in those places, it is not good. No facilities, no money, no infrastructure. If you don’t give basic facilities to the youth, how can you expect them to become good footballers? The first and foremost thing is to set up a structure. Provide financial assistance to states and districts to ensure that our young talent can play if they want to play. We have to organize tournaments at district and state level for both men and women. Unless you have a system, there will be no real development.
In such a situation, the Under-17 World Cup should help a lot.
Absolutely. It will happen and hence it is a very important tournament for India. This will help us to focus on the grassroots level. We did the boys U-17 World Cup and no doubt it helped. The same will happen for girls. Having said that the aim is not to just host the World Cup and play as a host country. The goal should be to qualify and play. Earn our right to play world tournaments. This is where Indian football needs to reach; Only then are you competitive at the international level. Just hosting and playing one tournament will not help us improve in the long term.
As a footballer do you think you can do this job better?
It certainly wouldn’t be bad! We have seen what non-footballers have done. things are not good. We must state things very clearly here and the reality is that the affairs of Indian football are in a bad shape. So, if for so long we’ve given non-football players the opportunity to run the show, it’s time to let the football players do the work and do what they can. I can assure you, as a football player we know what needs to be done and certainly you will not do worse than what you have seen. Really I want all the top football players of this country to come forward and serve the game in future. Someone like Sunil Chhetri or Gurpreet Sandhu. He has seen the world and played at the highest level and is India’s best player. It is very important that they come forward to serve the game in future.
Do you think good players are also good administrators? Isn’t this a very simple argument?
Look, what I’m trying to say is to give us a chance. Footballers have not yet been given a chance to run Indian football. I have been associated with Sikkim Football Association for the last six years and I have seen the challenges for the first time. As you know, I had my own club. Now it is important to use these learnings and serve the game. And I can assure you that I will do nothing worse than what you have seen. So, give us a chance and then decide the good and the bad.
You are an Indian footballing icon. Your name was mentioned in the same bracket in the Supreme Court as Sachin Tendulkar. Do you see a possibility where you and Kalyan Choubey can work together?
Kalyan is a nice guy but he has been away from football since last few years. He has been a full-time politician and I don’t think he can run it as president. The state union and the people of the district will mislead them as they do not know the ground reality. If I see that he has a vision for Indian football, I don’t mind working with him, but I don’t think he is ready yet. That’s why I say, he is a good person but he needs to work and know the ground reality first.
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