India has been long being termed as the “Sleeping Giant of World Football”. People in general and pundits in particular have different theories behind this.But the biggest bane has been the lack of proper grass-root development in the country, it is not just about conducting football schools and football camps it is far bigger. All the super-powers of world football puts the biggest emphasize on grass-root development program and nurturing of talents from a tender age.

The game has developed by leaps and bounds in the last two decades so only sheer talent is not the only criteria though it is the most important. Sports science and nutrition plays a very important part in today’s sports.

This leads us to the curious case of Bengal Football which till recently was the “Mecca of Indian Football”. Unfortunately Bengal Football hardly produces the talent and national team players they use to produce regularly even a couple of decades back.

Is it because of lack of talent and enthusiasm towards the game?

Going by the performance of the Bengal U 15 team in the on-going Nationals where they have produced sublime and dominating displays in all their matches capping it up with a blistering performance against Goa to down their rivals by a margin of 7-1 in a semi-final match actually destroys our question.

Even in the U15 Premier Cup being held in Goa at the moment United SC and other Bengal teams are performing admirably.

The biggest bane has been nurturing of talents in Bengal. The “Big Three” of Kolkata football has not done enough to nurture these talents. They do conduct football schools religiously but the basic point has been lack of professionalism in all activities., lot of factionalism and vested interest.

To put in some instances, Bengal till recently had a thriving nursery league and with much fan-fare Athletico De Kolkata had acquired that from IFA last year but this year it has not been conducted at all. Rampant age fraud and mis-management are the primary reasons sited by the state body and ATK. Along with that I will add lack of commitment and professionalism and lots of infighting in the state parent body IFA.

For some strange reason with such a vast talent pool none of the international clubs et up academies or football schools in Bengal. They rather prefer relatively less enthusiastic footballing cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Chennai. Are they to be blamed for doing that? No, as it is because of the detoriating sporting culture which has lead to this. Bengal once a sporting power house in India is lacking behind in all sports not only sports.

Bengal has all the ingredients still to get back lost glory i.e. Experienced former footballers, many AFC and FIFA licensed coaches, passionate fan base though limited only to the “Big Two”, etc.

But some people have made a business out of keeping Bengal a mediocare footballing state. The administrators and organisers have only one target in mind to hold on to their “ Seat Of Power” any which way without giving a dime of thought to the betterment of football in the state. Many people give

an excuse of lack of funds, lack of sponsors, corruption. Totally disagree with that if people have the right plans and the right intentions money would automatically follow as sports in general and football in particular is the biggest business around the world.

Corruption was even in FIFA, ICC and BCCI, but when it came to the bigger interest of the game they were all united to put up a great show. The state body IFA has failed to organise any of the age-level tournaments in a proper professional manner just due to factionalism and infighting. The nursery league, the university level tournaments, the district tournaments are either defunct or in tatters. The U19 IFA Shield which is one of the oldest tournament in the world is in shambles with total logistics and organistaional failure.

Mohun Bagan AC started their academy MBSA some years back and it was a huge success initially but for the last couple of years its future is uncertain with no talents coming up and infrastructure in tatters. East Bengal has launched an academy with much fan-fare with a very experienced coach in the form of Mr. Ranjan Chowdhury but unfortunately they are stuck with Bidhan Nagar Corporation in a dispute about the ground. The state government started an academy in Khardah with much fan-fare a year back but nothing has started there as well. Basically all projects are either in limbo or half-baked.

There are lot of small academies being run by individuals or group of individuals from their own money producing talents every year but they are not recognised by the state body or any other body or supported by any of the corporates so that they can get to the next level. The stake-holders mostly have never heard of these academies. Only one or two academies get the limelight as the administrators of the respective academies are well-connected. Connection and network should not be the only benchmark in football as talent can be found anywhere and it needs to be nurtured from anywhere.

Finally the “Big Two” have many fan clubs around the state everyone vying to be the most passionate supporters of football and their respective clubs. It will be a welcome change if these fan clubs come forward and contribute to football in putting in contributions to the numerous academies which are finding it difficult to run even after producing talents and help in nurturing these talents in some way or the other.

Finally, Bengal is too fond of discussing and contemplating the evils of the society and the game instead of actually taking steps in trying to make some positive changes. I believe Supporters are the biggest stake-holder in any sports so it is the onus on the innemurable fans and supporters to take some initiative in their own way to get Bengal back to where it was. They should take responsibilities as well to stir the hornet’s nest and make the administration take notice and get out of their comfort zone. Every football lover has some basic responsibilities towards “The Beautiful Game” which does not get over with just criticizing the administration. Everyone needs to be the change then only the state of football in Bengal would change.