FOOTBALL IN INDIA
Football was introduced to India by the British, and it soon became a favourite among the masses. The Mohan Bagan Athletic club was formed as early as 1889.
The world`s third oldest football tournament, The Durand Cup football tournament, was started in Shimla in 1898 by the then India`s Foreign Secretary, Sir Mortimer Durand..
The IFA-Shield is Calcutta`s oldest football tournament organised by, the Indian Football Association, since 1893. In 1911, Mohun Bagan AC was the first Indian team to win the IFA-Shield Trophy, a title previously won only by British teams.
Soon, the number of clubs and tournaments spread rapidly which led to the formation of the All India Football Federation in 1937. The AIFF got affiliated to the world body FIFA in 1948 and was one of the founder members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954.
The 1951 to 1962 decade was the golden age for Indian football as the country put up a laudable performance in international competitions. India won the gold medals in the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games at New Delhi and Jakarta respectively and in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics became the first Asian nation to reach the Olympic football semi-final.
Almost every culture has some reference or the other reference to the history of soccer. The Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Ancient Greek, Persian, Viking, and many more played a ball game very similar to the modern football.. The Chinese played "football" games date as far back as 3000 years ago. The Ancient Greeks and the Roman used football games to sharpen warriors for battle. In south and Central America a game called "Tlatchi" once flourished.
The first Football Association was founded in England in 1863 in England, when two football association (association football and rugby football) were divided. Therefore On October 1863, eleven London clubs and schools sent their representatives to the Freemason`s Tavern. This meeting marked the birth of The Football Association. They wanted no part in a game that forbade tripping, shin-kicking and carrying the ball. A stage had been reached where the ideals were no longer compatible. On 8 December 1863, football and rugby finally split. Their separation became totally irreconcilable six years hence when a provision was included in the football rules forbidding any handling of the ballFootball was introduced to India by the British, and it soon became a favourite among the masses. The Mohan Bagan Athletic club was formed as early as 1889.
The world`s third oldest football tournament, The Durand Cup football tournament, was started in Shimla in 1898 by the then India`s Foreign Secretary, Sir Mortimer Durand..
The IFA-Shield is Calcutta`s oldest football tournament organised by, the Indian Football Association, since 1893. In 1911, Mohun Bagan AC was the first Indian team to win the IFA-Shield Trophy, a title previously won only by British teams.
Soon, the number of clubs and tournaments spread rapidly which led to the formation of the All India Football Federation in 1937. The AIFF got affiliated to the world body FIFA in 1948 and was one of the founder members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954.
The 1951 to 1962 decade was the golden age for Indian football as the country put up a laudable performance in international competitions. India won the gold medals in the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games at New Delhi and Jakarta respectively and in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics became the first Asian nation to reach the Olympic football semi-final.
Almost every culture has some reference or the other reference to the history of soccer. The Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Ancient Greek, Persian, Viking, and many more played a ball game very similar to the modern football.. The Chinese played "football" games date as far back as 3000 years ago. The Ancient Greeks and the Roman used football games to sharpen warriors for battle. In south and Central America a game called "Tlatchi" once flourished.
The first Football Association was founded in England in 1863 in England, when two football association (association football and rugby football) were divided. Therefore On October 1863, eleven London clubs and schools sent their representatives to the Freemason`s Tavern. This meeting marked the birth of The Football Association. They wanted no part in a game that forbade tripping, shin-kicking and carrying the ball. A stage had been reached where the ideals were no longer compatible. On 8 December 1863, football and rugby finally split. Their separation became totally irreconcilable six years hence when a provision was included in the football rules forbidding any handling of the ball
Football is finally finding its feet in the willows nation. The world’s most popular game, played in over 200 countries, is ready for a makeover in India with efforts by football authorities and even corporates.
Football is one of the most popular games in India. The game commands a massive fan following across the length and breadth of the country and is the top sport in the states of West Bengal, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim. During the heyday of the Indian football players, the country won some of the most coveted trophies and medal at prestigious international events. However, football in India has lost out to its more illustrious cousin - cricket, in the popularity stakes. The dwindling interest in the once-popular game is an ample reflection of the shabby state of affairs in Indian football.
At a time, when Indian sportspersons are asserting themselves in the world stage and bringing laurels for the country, the Indian football team is languish at the bottom of the world football rankings. The All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body in football, introduced the National Football League in 1996, in a bid to raise the standards of the game in India. The effort has met only partial success, due to the lack of a comprehensive package to focus on the fitness and tactical dimensions of the players. However, a wind of change is blowing in Indian football. The AIFF has roped in Bob Houghton as the new manager of the national team and the Englishman is expected to deliver the goods on account of his associations with some top-ranked Asian teams.
