Shimla-the birthplace of the Durand Cup and the Indian Air Force ...

The beacon...
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, PVSM VSM ADC, President of the Durand Football Society in an
interview with Atul bhardwaj, editor Purple Beret comments on the legacy of inter-relationship
between the armed forces and sports in general and football in particular as well as the bright
future of football
The Durand Cup Football is the oldest tournament in the country,
how has it helped to awaken the football spirit in the country?
Durand Cup is not only the oldest football tournament in
the country but entire Asia and it is the third oldest football
tournament in the world. A number of Indian and Asian teams
compete for the coveted trophy. The tournament has a lot of
mass appeal and enjoys emotional attachment with old and
famous clubs. Two of India’s premier football clubs, Mohun
Bagan and East Bengal, have qualified for the finals 25 times
each and have won the Durand Cup 16 times each. Most of the
players are of Indian origin, though lately many teams have
foreign players also in their ranks. This is an indication of
the growing popularity of the tournament, both in India and
abroad. The Durand Cup remains an important event in the
football calendar every year and has tremendously contributed
to the football spirit in the country.
How has the direct association of the armed forces with this
prestigious tournament helped the tournament sustain itself over
the years?
Armed Forces have the tradition of sustaining themselves
against all odds. Similarly, the Durand Cup has continued since
1888, under the patronage of the defence forces. The tournament
was only suspended twice during World War I and II for obvious
reasons. Otherwise the rich legacy of this exalted tournament
still lives on and the armed forces have a special attachment to
this tournament. The armed forces are committed to promoting
sporting events that encourage camaraderie, esprit-de- corps
and sportsmanship.
In a country where cricket is almost a religion do you think it is
difficult for football to grow in such an environment?
Cricket is a religion in our country but at the same time other
sports are getting popular by the day. Every sporting event has
its own charm and followers. I am sure that our country has a
lot of scope to absorb various games and football is one of the
more popular ones. In fact, India is being termed as a football
sleeping giant. We are realising the immense potential that we
have in terms of talent in our country. With improvement in
sports infrastructure, availability of professional coaching and
adequate sponsorship, I am sure football standards are bound
to improve in our country.
What should be done at the national level to promote other
sports and especially, football that has a potential following in
the country.
To promote football we need to bring in more players from the
grassroot levels, develop required infrastructure and ensure
greater involvement from the Government and corporates to
support the cause. Establishing of Sports Academies in each
state will be a beneficial step. We also need to concentrate upon
having a scientific approach to training our players. They would
also need good medical support. After all, training by good
coaches, physiologists, psychologists and fitness specialists
is the order of the day. While, some steps have been initiated,
the requirement is to increase the penetration of trained staff
at all levels. The Indian Air Force has contributed towards this
cause by conducting and managing the Subroto Cup Football
tournament and sponsoring deserving talent.
What are the important features of the Durand Cup this year?
This year, the Durand Cup is scheduled from mid-September
to mid-October. The tournament organisers are trying a
transformative approach as far as the format of the tournament
is concerned. We are pursuing a strategy of aggressive marketing
this time by increasing the prize money and providing the
tournament greater media coverage. We hope that these
measures will bring in new dynamism to this tournament and it
will increase the popularity of football in our country.
purple beret July 2011 7