IFA shield: Revive the Glory!

IFA shield is the fourth oldest football tournament in the world organized by Indian Football Association annually. Chronologically, this tournament (started in 1893) is placed after englisg FA cup, Scottish FA cup and Durand cup. But in an age when steps are taken to revive the glory of the FA cups IFA shield is losing its value and jeal.

Currently another edition of the IFA shield is being organized in Kolkata in a miserable manner; AIFF failed to find a regular slot in its calendar for this historic football tournament. So it has been carelessly placed at the end of the season when players are tired and suffering from lack of motivation. Players are more concerned about their transfer talks for next season. Even the fixture is also a point of concern. The organizers got to start this in two days of completion of the I-league and the fixture is too dense to breath. One club is playing six matches in twelve days. This probably speaks everything out.

Not only calendar and schedule, this tournament is not finding a stadium or venue either. Hence, its being organized in a scattered way- in multiple number of not so famous and small stadiums. A tournament which has participants from outside of india is organized in the most unprofessional manner. This surely is not conveying a very good message to the world football fraternity. AIFF, IFA, Govt.: are you listening?

Who is responsible for this mismanagement and organization failure? To be frank, this spoil sport is not any single entity's mission. Sports ministry, Football association, State police, the army, the organizers are all playing their part of irresponsibility and unprofessionalism in demeaning this football tournament.

Firstly, Indian Football Association, the organizer has a very poor set up and infrastructure in place and as a result they failed to convince the AIFF to provide a slot for this tournament at a better time in the middle of the season. Neither AIFF is providing any support to revive this tournament. When english FA cup is being given utmost importance (by allowing champion to participate at european stage, by tagging it major domestic knock out tournament) the AIFF's approach to this tournament is really pathetic and unprofessional.

Next its turn of the state government sport ministry; it may sound very funny but true that state government's ministers play a major role to decide which event would be organized in a 'football stadium'. And more unfortunately they are giving some other non football events more priority than this football tournament. It really hurts and questions the conscience and responsibility of the concerned entities; Can you imagine, in a football stadium like Yuva Bharati Kriyangan, some other non football events are given more priority over a historic football tournament.

Organizer plans for a different venue and now its turn of the indian army to show their spade; they choose this particular time frame for the repairing work of the stadiums. And you can not really blame them because these stadiums are owned by them and they rarely care about the IFA shield.

In the midst of all the indiscipline even if some inappropiate stadiums are choosen and a fixture is set; police has their own problem in that. You must change your schedule as police can not provide right number of personnels for security and safety.

Now you can understand, where is the IFA shield heading forward? But is that all? Is there so solution to this problem? Cant this tournament be given a new life? Yes, its possible; only a little bit logical thinking and responsibilty from the concerned parties can do this trick.

AIFF president and office bearer are repeatedly speaking out of professionalizing of the indian football. Now its time to act for them. They must put a professional structure in our football. As a part of this approach, they must prepare the annual football calendar keeping all the famous football tournament in mind. The way all the big football nations are slotting their domestic knock out in between league and international committments is really cool. AIFF must follow such kind of approach in their calendar. They must provide all kind of supports and encouragement in organizing this tournament.

Government personnel must not mix up their politics and sports at all. That is really dangerous. Government must take step to ensure that all the big clubs has their own staduims. And in football stadium, football must be given the highest priority. The army and other concerned parties must act in bit more sensibile way. Police should also be much more efficient and their availability must be out of question. They shoulc also give priority to the games and sports section.

Its very much feasible; just require honest and responsible efforts from all the concerned groups.Now big question: is there any taker for these thoughts? Or would we be losing the presigious tournament with time.