Mission Football, launched on July 22 amid much fanfare, is another dream project of the state government.
The Rs 560-crore mission (project cost till 2020-21) aims to improve infrastructure — which includes stadium, football parks and play fields of international standard, among other promised extravaganza — and aims to make the state a “factory of football players”.
Matsiewdor War Nongbri, Joint Secretary in the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, says the government is going full blast to accomplish the mission. “We have already got proposals for 33 football coaching centres from all the 11 districts and they will be functional soon. Besides, some centres are already functional in district headquarters,” she informs.
The government, so far, has not sanctioned any fund. When asked about central funds, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith Sangma said the state would seek Centre’s help for some programmes but “Mission Football is a state programme and will be largely funded by the state”.
The state is also planning to organise a workshop for both licensed and non-licensed coaches. “Things are on the right track and are moving steadily,” Nongbri assures.
The government is also set to announce the Meghalaya State League this month, which is part of its Action Plan for the year. The cost for conducting the league will be
Rs 1.35 crore. The state will also start grassroots festivals this month as per the plan.
However, a few associated with the sport have a different take on the government’s mission. They say the state teams are already playing the I-league and there is Shillong Premier League so why the need for a separate one in Meghalaya?
“The lakhs of rupees that the government spent on the razzle-dazzle of the Mission launch was redundant. Instead, the government could have given money to the clubs to augment their infrastructure, which has not been done. We are bamboozled by the government’s move to launch a separate mission for the game. It is a total hogwash,” says a football aficionado on condition of anonymity.
Comparing the football scenario in Meghalaya and Mizoram, which became the I-league champion this year, another football fanatic says the latter started playing in the league only in 2014 and “look at its infrastructure now”.
“No doubt the state’s football infrastructure has improved over the years but more needs to be done. We are lagging behind states like Mizoram,” the football fan says.
Larsing Ming Sawyan, the managing director of Shillong Lajong FC, feels Mission Football can bridge the gaps which are deterring the state from clinching the top slot in the game and local clubs will be pivotal in doing so.
“The clubs are the most important stakeholders in the developmental process of football. The mission document envisages a Meghalaya State League which is aimed at encouraging football promoters from districts to set up and promote clubs. A platform is being created for such clubs to compete in the State League against the big clubs of the Shillong Premier League. This will provide a larger platform for aspiring young footballers from rural areas to take up the game and showcase their talent,” says Sawyan, who is also the president of the Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) and vice-president of All India Football Federation.
He explains that the government consulted clubs and experts before laying down the Mission objectives, which are in line with the AIFF Development Agenda.
Cost pangs
Though the Mission Football road map mentions every detail, including cost, there is no specific time frame for any infrastructure project. On flagging the issue, Nongbri says it was deliberate because “the government has to look for funds too”.
“The mission requires a lot of fund. We do not mind public-private partnership for building infrastructure. We will also approach the Centre,” says Nongbri.
Sawyan too points out the challenges in implementing the mission. “The Mission Document is an ambitious one and involves a large amount of capital deployment. It will require a collaborative effort between the State Government and the State and district associations for the Mission to successfully achieve its objectives in the next five years,” he points out.
Need of the hour
The state has already produced national level players like Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Jackichand Singh and Aiborlang Khongjee, that too without a Mission Football. But the hunt for talent should be more extensive and aggressive. “We need infrastructure in villages of Jowai, West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills because most of the best players come from rural pockets,” says a former woman footballer from Lawsohtun.
The state also needs good referees and coaches, feel many in the football fraternity. “Football in Meghalaya has seen a substantial change in the last three years. But the number of quality referees and coaches has to go up simultaneously. We have only four national level referees in the state,” says David Kharrymbai, a local referee.
Meghalaya has two A-Licence coaches, four B-Licence, 26 C and 64 D licence holders and “we are aiming at increasing the number of A-Licence coaches”, says B Diengdoh, CEO of the state football body. He adds that MFA is planning to hold three courses for coaches.
Women’s football and football at the grassroots level also need a lease of life. Among the big clubs in the state, only Royal Wahingdoh has a women’s football team. The trend is disappointing and more teams should come up. “Scope for women in the game is still not encouraging. We need more clubs to nurture all-woman teams and conduct more tournaments for them. I had to quit the game because it became difficult to convince my family that the sport is a lucrative option in the long run,” says the former footballer, now mother of two children. She feels that there is a need to take the game to women in rural pockets.
“MFA as one of the major stakeholders in Mission Football has to see that the game reaches the grassroots. Children as young as eight years should be brought into the game. It also has the responsibility to produce more coaches in every corner of the state and good quality referees and better the existing ones,” says Diengdoh.
Scepticism lurks
“Mission Football could potentially be a springboard for talented and gifted youths of the state. However, it all depends on the clarity of execution,” Arki Lyngdoh of TouchlineNE says.
With Meghalaya’s record of corrupt governments, red tape, non-transparency in governance and delayed welfare, many in the state are sceptical that Mission Football will also fall flat and public money will be wasted.
But Sawyan allays fears. “A reasonable amount of work has already gone into upgrading the JN Complex in the last few years. The Mission document envisages the development of a state-of-the-art stadium only for football, besides further upgrading the JN Stadium and First Ground Stadium of the Shillong Sports Association. In my mind, it is imperative that both the JN Stadium and the Shillong Sports Stadium are upgraded immediately because not much is required to be done to make these two stadiums fit to host international and national tournaments,” he says.
With the expansion of the Shillong airport, Meghalaya will be in a position to bid for international matches as well as host league matches post integration of leagues, he adds.
“What is needed is a proper follow up from the implementing agencies. Perhaps the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs may look at appointing a nodal officer who will be fully responsible for its implementation. Should this document (Mission Football) be adopted by successive governments, Meghalaya will emerge as a powerhouse of Indian football in the next 5 to 7 years,” the Lajong MD observes.
~ Nabamita Mitra
(With inputs from Heather Phanwar & Olivia Lyngdoh Mawlong)