Sometimes sports becomes an assuaging factor for people bedevilled by the complexities of life (‘Weekend Sport’ – “In football heaven”, April 29). The north-eastern States exemplify that creed. Despite being swamped in the miasma of poverty, underdevelopment and ethnic conflicts compounded by perpetual insurgency, north-eastern Indians have never drifted from professing their passion for football. Any tournament, whether local or a broadcast of a duel between Messi and Ronaldo, is nothing less than a Christmas Day celebration. However, it is unfortunate that this fervour has not received the focus of the mainstream media or the support of national sport bodies. For long, football in India has been viewed as a Kerala, Goa or Bengal-centric affair. The recent achievements of Lajong FC or the Northeast United FC and now the Aizawl FC in the I-League demonstrate the potential of the Northeast to be the El Dorado of quality players. The only impediment in the quality manifestation of their inborn talent is the lack of resources to sharpen their football skills. The Sport Ministry’s Mission XI Million to promote the game should lead to a change.
Bibhuti Das,
New Delhi
