'Soccer has a future in India'

Abu Dhabi: Football does a future in India and can compete with cricket, says one of the country's great soccer players.

Former India forward I.M. Vijayan is now involved in the film industry and has football to thank for dragging him up from selling sodas in Thrissur's soccer stadium.

He said: "During the early 80s I used to sell sodas at the stadium and this was for two reasons.

"The money I made was important but more exciting for me was that I could watch the matches for free," said Vijayan, who hit national headlines when he was plucked from obscurity and thrust on to the national stage where he dazzled.

"The former Director General of Police of Kerala, M.K. Joseph asked me to join Kerala Police and as a 17-year-old I had to wait for another six months before I could be employed legally.

Big break

"That was a big break, I got a permanent job and soon settled down in the Police as well as Kerala State team," said Vijayan, who was in Abu Dhabi as a guest of Abu Dhabi Shakthi Theatres.

The sport close to his heart and he insisted football was not a lost cause in India.

He said: "Cricket is the number one sport but most of their money comes from the corporate world. Even today, small tournaments held in towns in Kerala are so successful that organisers make over Rs 500,000 only through gate collections.

"But that amount comes down drastically when international and national level events are held which means all is not well."

But he said soccer needs to address issues within the game including the development of young talent.

He added: "Another major drawback is the lack of football academies. Apart from the Tata Football Academy there are not many who can run and sustain themselves.

Charity event

"I started one after collecting money through a charity football event played by film stars but that lasted for five years.

Now we have to again look for sponsors," said Vijayan, whose first film, Shantham (Peace), won the national award for best film.

He added: "One more reason why football is lagging behind in India is many top players prefer to give their best for the clubs rather than the country.

"In football the money is there if you play for clubs. In contrast, cricketers make more money when they play for the country and there is hardly any money at the club level.

"Though the I-League allows three foreign players per club so far we have not seen quality players come.

"If they do then we can expect the Indian players to learn and improve from them. Right now it is the other way round," said Vijayan.

Cricket is the number one sport but most of their money comes from the corporate world....All is not well."