Unlike football, cricket lacks passionate fans in India: Bhaichung Bhutia
Former Indian national team captain Bhaichung Bhutia believes that Indian football fans are more passionate than their cricket counterparts. Bhutia, who accompanied Anil Kumble in the session “India at Play” on the second day of Jaipur Literature Festival, feels that the nation has 'missed out on hundreds of Messis'.
"Unlike football, cricket lacks passionate fans. During the IPL final, in between the fours and sixes, the game was boring. At one point of time, there was a loud cheer from the crowd. I thought someone had scored a six but no, the crowd was excited to watch Shah Rukh Khan on the big screen. No one was really bothered about who won and who lost. If it was a Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal match, fans of the losing team would have created a ruckus outside the stadium. I am not saying that's good, but that's what happens in football," Bhutia was quoted as saying by IBNLive.
The former East Bengal and Mohun Bagan striker also hoped that the BCCI helps out Indian football financially. He said, "I hope BCCI gives a certain percentage of money to football. Indian football lacks money".
The former Indian international also stressed the importance of concentrating on grass root development and lamented the lack of financial support for the people who do so.
Spin legend Anil Kumble felt that the nation needs more youngsters who aspire to be Bhaichung Bhutia, rather than Sachin Tendulkar."State associations have to change and pitch in for development of football in their respective states. Grass root level needs to be tapped. World football focuses so much on grass root level players. But in India people who work at that level to develop skills of young footballers are not even financially benefited,” he added.
"In India, people relate to Ronaldo or Pele but they should relate to Bhutia. People need to relate to other sports players as well. Everyone wants to be a Sachin Tendulkar; we need more people to aspire to become Baichung Bhutia," Kumble said.
Bhutia insisted that the nation has already missed out on nurturing a lot of potentially world class talents. He said, "We got to focus on new development and make every state association to follow it. Coaches in India need to be trained better so that they can create future stars.
“India has missed out on hundreds of Messis. We need to tap them."
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