“MDFA, WIFA and Mumbai School must join hands to make the Business of football work”

by Chittu Shetty October 16, 2016

Former football player, who now works as a coach at grassroot level of Mumbai football believes that Associations like MDFA, WIFA, and Mumbai schools should come together to Improve the standard of the game.

Associations coming together will only help in improving Grassroot talents

Speaking to Footballcounter, Nawal Seth, Former player and currently the head coach of Sobo Panthers, an Under 16 girl’s team in Mumbai, opined that, “Development of any game has its roots connected right to the young fresh minds. Involving kids with the game at a very early age will not only benefit the child, but also help the game. Over the last six years, Kenkre has taken off and done some humane service to grassroots football in Mumbai.”

“Most of the kids from here play for different schools and are the ones who are involved with training in their respective schools.” He added, showcasing the importance of the Kenkre’s grassroots programs.

Challenges of Mumbai football

According to Naval Seth, “Ground availability is one of the big issues that are hampering progress.”

“Don Bosco has a substantial presence but is not available 24×7; St. Andrews is a boon and has made life much easier as teams don’t have to be at mercy of rains. Astroturf is a good thing but with chances of injuries around”, he added

“Another problem is, ‘After School –football option’ MDFA has failed to figure that out, WIFA is making efforts but unless MDFA, WIFA, Mumbai school come together with a structured plan Football will Fail” According to the 63 year old, Kids have very little to almost negligible football option once they come out of school and enter colleges with very few college-level tournaments around compared to numerous school level and that is the reason why we see a lot of mediocre footballers as a lot of good players just stop playing at colleges which is ultimately a death wish to any professional football career. He said,”Football is fantastic during junior level, it’s fantastic at high school level but in colleges, I hate to use the words but it’s abysmal.”

Lack of Professional setup

Seth believed that MDFA has failed to professionalise the game and make a working business model, “They need to spend some money, get a business manager and professionalise the game, there has to be employment option as an attraction. Teams have to be professional; lack of initiative by local clubs has hurt the game. Mumbai FC, PIFA Colaba are floundering. Football is very unprofessional in Mumbai no value for Audience, How can it survive, spectators are the most important part, the customer is king for anything to survive.”

“School football has around 500 parents watching, most of the times there are more people in such games then Mumbai FC vs Air India at cooperage. We don’t get an advance schedule, MDFA doesn’t provide them as they themselves don’t know most of the time.”

Aditya Thackeray, the Shiv Sena youth leader has recently been an instrumental figure in bringing International football back in Mumbai after 61 years. Seth was full of praise for the young leader,”He has shown us how the game should be run, WIFA & MDFA should not take credit for the India vs Puerto Rico game. It was Aditya Thackeray who got together a ground, made facility available, negotiated with the AIFF and brought the game in Mumbai. Around 7000 people watched the India vs. Puerto Rico match and it looked like 15000 were present. 3-4 more such games and you will have houseful spectators.”

Seth believed that if politics comes together for the game and just like what Aditya Thackeray did at Mumbai be replicated at all the 32 districts of Maharashtra, we will see great talents emerging from Satara, Nagpur, Baramati etc.

MDFA, WIFA and Mumbai School must join hands to work together

“Ego is the big problem among these three associations. They should be rallied to come together and work for the betterment of the game in the district and the state. Right now everybody is working for their own respective associations.” Opined, Seth while adding that he was ready to make Chicken Biryani in Mumbai football that he would be ready to give his service to these three associations if required.

Women’s football on the rise

Enthusiasm of Football among girls has been incredible

Seth, who is helping the Under-16 girls teams Sobo panthers appreciated MDFA‘s initiative of starting women’s league and that they have to keep taking such good steps by joining hands with WIFA and Mumbai schools.

According to Seth, girls are more enthusiastic than boys, “They show more energy, want to play more, Parents come out in support.”

He believes 5-a side, 7-a side, 11-a side is important. Options should be available at regular age groups and keep it as a career option.

Also Read: INDIAN WOMEN’S LEAGUE PRELIMS TO KICK-OFF ON OCT 17

Football Education

Football education is important from schools then colleges then MDFA. WIFA is doing a good job with education certification of coaches but needs to reach there. 18-year-olds are eligible to these training but According to Nawal Seth, like other subjects, Football education could also be an option. One could be a lousy player but a smart mind will help in solving football related issues in the game. It could be an employment option too.

When asked, where do one start from? Seth explained, “Start from younger lots, make sure people with 6 years old, 8 years old, 10 years old and training them are encouraged by associations.”

Business of football needs to work

All MDFA clubs should partner with schools and try getting sponsors. There are corporate wanting to invest but in ones where 90% of money are spent on football and not the other way around.

Most of the people working for the Associations are former professionals who are doing pro bono. A professional Coach will take care of professional department, cleaning up the Ganges (a mess of the Mumbai Football). Nawal Seth exclaimed, ”Professionalisation is necessary,  Mumbai football wouldn’t work for the next 50 years if it is not professionalised and also 50 years later, I may not be around but you will hear this same story.”

Cultural Barriers is just an excuse

When asked about whether India’s various cultural varieties is the problem for the growth of the game, the 63-year-old retorted back saying, “Cultural barrier should not be a barrier anywhere, football should be used as a unifying factor. The language barrier can create a problem in communication among players but even EPL, La Liga has that issue. What do you do? You get an Interpreter. Even Indian hockey team has one.”

Nita Ambani should be applauded

The former player was all praise for Nita Ambani’s Football initiative “Reliance has done a good job, Nita Ambani has started a good initiative and she must be appreciated. Reliance Jio’s grassroots program in Mumbai is a good working model. Duplicate the model in smaller cities. Talent is not restricted to Mumbai alone. Go to Nagpur, Pune, Baramati football is alive and everywhere just needs a pathway.”

Concluding the Interview, Naval Seth opined that, ”WIFA should get professional coaches for smaller cities also and more importantly pay them. Nobody knows how to make money from football here. Do we have to teach that?”

“Media can make or break a sport. A combination of TV, Gate and Sponsors has value. Somebody has to know it.” He added.