Post Mortem of English Football and Media: A Rejoinder to England

We all read English media –English websites, news papers, and sports journals. We are more familiar with English Premier League, analysis of former players comes through English media and reports appear in English dailies. When these media start talking about their own country, most of them prefer to project the players playing in EPL. This was one of the most harmful part in the pre-match analysis. Most of the publications projected the players working with English clubs as the best players in the world and English team is the best team because EPL is the best league in the world.

For example, Fernando Torres was the darling of English media just because he is playing for Liverpool. Everyone projected him as the hero of Spain by forgetting the fact that the former Valencia player David Villa did better than him in league as well as for country. In 2008 Euro, Villa got 4 goals but Torres got a goal in the final and he becomes the super hero. English media projected all the English players are superior to others and they will definitely reach at least in the semi final level. The experience and tactical acumen ship of Fabio Capello in higher level football fuelled them in this argument. When they lost to Germany, badly in the pre-quarter, the media started witch hunt for some reliable cause and at the end they satisfied with the victory of Germany over Argentina. Because they managed to score one goal against Germany and Argentina failed to do that.

When they started the post-mortem, first firing was against the number of foreign players playing in the league. It is true, the EPL is having maximum number of foreign players and some teams plays with complete squad of foreign players. Second finding was the demand for home grown coach-managers for the country. They forgot the fact that EPL doesn’t have enough home grown coaches who can manage a high profile team with complete control. So, Fabio Capello is the best finding for them, because he has all credentials to keep high profile-high earning players in their places. The last person who had such experience was Sir Bobby Robson, who bid adieu one year back.

When the English media talks about the abundance of foreign players, they forgot the fact that the major contribution for the EPL has come from those players. The people who brought glamour to the league were players like Eric Cantona, David Ginola, Jurgen Klinsman, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Dider Drogba, Aryan Robben, Javier Mascherano etc. They brought fame, name and success for EPL.

On the other hand, how many English players managed to play in the other leagues? Is it because that, they feel that the other European leagues were inferior to their EPL? In recent past, there was only one major player managed to get some space in Spanish League –David Beckham. Yes, Michel Oven too had a small stint with Real Madrid. What about Italian league? None of the top profile Italian teams or Spanish teams apart from Real Madrid showed interest in any high flying English player. This is because all other European leagues knew that English players were accustomed to a particular game and they won’t be able to repeat their form in another system.

Fact is, a good player should be able to play well in any team, which plays with any style. If the English player is good to place directly into a new team which play in different style, any high profile team will come and buy their players at any cost. Real Madrid knew that Christiano Roanldo is capable to play in any position in any team so they paid the asked price and put him directly into their playing eleven. It is difficult to find an English player in Ronaldo’s place. Hard fact is England failed to produce high level talents who are capable to be accommodated into any team without a second thought. The English media boast the names of players such as Frank Lambard, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, SWP, Ledly King etc., the fact is none of them are capable to get a decent bid from high profile teams like Real Madrid, Barca, Juvetus, Milan teams, etc. Interestingly, England failed to develop a decent reliable goalkeeper for the country for long time.

Same question could be repeated against the managers. How many English managers gained experience from abroad? How many of them managed high profile club teams in other countries? In the last two decade period, England had six English managers and two foreign managers. Among them Sir Robson, and to a certain extent Terry Venables had experience in managing high profile teams abroad. Both worked for Barcelona and Venables managed the national team of Australia. Others, Graham Taylor, Glen Hoodle, Kevin Kegan, and Steve Mc Claren had experience in managing English club teams only. Later, Mc Claren decided to move out of England and successfully completed a stint in Holland and later moved to Germany. Why other countries are not interested in English managers or why English managers are not interested in working for leagues in other countries?

When Mc Claren failed to qualify England for the finals of Euro 2008, England turned back to a high profile foreign manager and settled with then Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello. He took Real Madrid back to title after few years of their trophy less seasons and he was one of the most successful managers in Italian league who managed AC Milan, Juventus, and Roma. Now, after cracking out from pre-quarter round in the World Cup finals, the media started roaring for the head of Capello. Do English media think that they can provide or point out a high profile name for the post of English manger? They are now throwing up the name of Tottenham Hotspurs manager Harry Redknapp who had a successful stint at the club level this year. If Harry remembers how the media projected Keegan and Mc Claren for the post and how they treated them when they failed to achieve something from World Cup and Euro cup respectively, Redknapp will definitely say no to the call of England.

It is not the problem of English Football. It is the problem of English FA who has no proper long term plan and ideas about the future of English football. Pundits in media will say whatever they like but FA should look beyond them and should prepare proper plans for the development of English football. They should give more power and control to the manager and allow him to prepare the team in his way with a long term perspective. Capello is capable for that and he will definitely deliver good results in future. Because of the hard treatment from English media, none of the managers will show courage to pick a team according to his choice. The major difference between Germany and England were, the later tried to keep satisfy the senior players and through that by media too. On the other hand, Germany gave free hand to their manager and instead of picking the senior players, he preferred for the talents of young players who were not much known for the world. England doesn’t get a chance to watch and learn how the youngsters in German team play and what potential they have etc., etc.

World Cup 2010 -My Views

What is football world cup? For each country in the world, it is a big struggle to reach in the final 32. Then, there are only seven steps to reach in the peak of the world as winners. World Cup of 2010 is half-way through. Defending champions and the runners failed to reach in the pre-quarter and most hyped team lost out in the pre-quarter round. Great, this world cup has all nice ingredients.

Marketing of the world cup was really great. It is first time, Africa become the host for the World cup and it was not South Africa, the host country, the whole Africa was included when one talk about world cup 2010. After 1998 France World Cup, this was the first time, the title song become a big hit globally. Adidas Company, the official manufacturer of –Jabulani, the ball used for this World Cup, opened the Pandora box of controversies. Almost all goal keepers aired their views about the ball and took pre-emptive bail for their blunders.

Just after the Euro 2008, I had a piece in this blog about the failure of Italy and France in the European Championship. I still stick with my argument about both France and Italy and the result proved how much I was correct. Poor Lippi, he got everything he deserved in 2006 edition and still it is an enigma that why he accepted the request of Italian FA to manage the struggling Italian team? Raymond Domenech reaped what he saw. As I said in my old writing, he made all stupid decisions in team selection and forgot the fact that the key player who took his team to the final of 2006 stopped playing for his country.

I feel very bad for Ivory Coast. Second time, they got into the toughest group and knocked out in the first round itself. Nigeria and Cameroon played but failed to convince their performances of earlier days. Especially, Cameroon showed why Roger Milla is still stand tall in their country. They were lacking a player like him. The hosts, South Africa started with all flares but failed to continue. Still they produced some promising displays and offered some young talents for future. Vuvuzelas created a different world inside the stadium and telecasters brought it to our home without losing its spirit.

Now, all hope is in Ghana who reached in the quarter final. Abedi Pele’s country produced a group of young players including his sons to match with Europe and Latin America. They overcome the loss of their most established player Michel Essien and moved towards the World Cup was a team with their ‘one-goal project’. Under the guidance of Milovan Rajevac, the manager of Ghana, fought very hard against Australia and Serbia in the first round to earn precious 4 points. In pre-quarter they defeated USA and going to face Uruguay in the quarter. Let’s hope, Ghana will carry the light of Africa further.

Among the final eight, we have four Latin American teams and three Europeans along with single Ghana from Africa. Argentina, the darling of football lovers is facing Germany in the quarter finals and wonderful Brazil is facing the ‘moving oranges’. European Champion Spain struggled to get pass Portuguese defence and preparing to face Paraguay who defeated Asia’s last hope –Japan in the penalty shootout.

So far, Messi did any goal but he created enough for his team mates. Brazilian strikers are doing well. Germany is doing much better than expected. The young boys of Germany thrashed ever-hyped England and show them the exit door. Holland is far from their normal football. We can’t see the short pass and spinning moves of 1970’s total football. They are playing like Germans of those days. They are very cautious, more defensive (unusual) and very pragmatic. In the quarter finals, they will face Brazil, who has more fire power in all segments. Watch Uruguay –the team which conceded just one goal in all four matches so far. They have proved strikers in Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan and a trust-worthy defence.

Still believe, Argentina is the best among all the last eight. They have everything in all segments and overall they have Messi to open up any strong defence. Only drawback they have is their famous manager Maradona. He is the best footballer but madness of a talented is always a trouble.

IPL, IT and a Commissioner

IPL, IT and a Commissioner

For more than one and a half decade, the acronym ‘IT’ was something to do with divine power -good jobs, foreign investment, flagship of Indian entrepreneurship, intelligentsia etc, etc. Earlier, it was not, and it was a very powerful instrument of the Government to keep rich people (sometimes politicians and others too) in their place. Common people were bothered about them only once in an year (most probably in March). For last one week, the old IT regained its power and glory. IPL tried to surpass the new IT and the Old IT is there to put them in its place. So, people started thinking IT is more connected with Income Tax than Information Technology, at least for the time being.

Quiet sometime, the image of people belongs to IT were associated with laptop hanging young boys and girls. Suddenly, the image is changed. IT become a gang of young and elder people who barge into the offices of cricket team offices in Metros and searching for the evidence of what the team did for last couple of years. Once they decided to touch the shining cricket teams, the entire media attention moved towards to them. For the last couple of days, every news channels in India were showing the movements of IT teams in across nation. A nationalistic approach of the IT department, great performance.

Common people are waiting to see the outcome of recent raids and searches by the IT officials, but not very optimistic about the result. In fact, the majority was not well informed about the money power of IPL and remained less interested in its games too. The class who really understood the possibilities of the IPL was less in number but their monetary gain was phenomenal. This special breed were not bothered about cricket and its existence but worried about the income from sponsors, betting, TV rights, post match parties and any avenue which add more money to their pockets rather than cricket.

Last three years, Indian cricket allowed a Frankenstein to grow in his full potential and now trying to control him with help of IT department. The Indian cricket authority, BCCI, is struggling to keep a tab on this IPL commissioner and the IPL commissioner is about to press the explosive buttons, if he go down, then with others only. Remember, the commissioner (not police) is very powerful than our imagination could reach. He is capable to undermine the ministry of Home Affairs to move the entire league from India to South Africa. If he is capable to change location of Independence Day celebrations of a state from its capital to another town, he will capable to change India’s capital from New Delhi to Dubai or some other tax havens. Sorry, our IT department and other economic departments were sleeping for years.

Once IT and Enforcement department started scrutinizing the deals involved in IPL, the ministry of corporate affairs are struggling to define whether the IPL teams belongs to corporate company category or comes under society act. In one TV show, the concerned minister was struggling to answer the question regarding these aspects. In answer, he started stating, the government will come with new laws, if the existing things are not enough. Fine, without trying those provisions for last three years, how he can make such statements –no question.

My observation is that the government will come with new laws. Of course, it is not for bringing out the details of the illegitimate deals of IPL teams or the ‘big’ people involved in it. It is for legalising the wrong doings involved in this process. We will make a law to legitimise betting, we will ask parliament to legalise gambling and will ask the government to make them free from any kind of taxation.

Industrialists, film actors, socialites, politicians etc., started falling in behind the commissioner. They, in single voice, says that this gentle man didn’t do anything wrong and demands the public, you should be thankful to him for running IPL successfully for you for years and helping us to become richer. Of course, he did a great job and deserves a lot, minimum a Bharat Ratna.

Forbes magazine brought out exclusive club of "The Forbes Global 2000" - "the biggest, most powerful listed companies in the world" and included 56 companies from India. If it is based on the performance, they are suppose to include few more in it. Which company made more profit than Indian Premier League and its 8 great teams? Who made more profit than them in less time span? So, we can say, Forbes’s assessment is not fair or wrong. May be, the Forbes is not much aware about our commissioner and his abilities.

I don’t know when our Indian public will built temple for the commissioner who taught them how to make money without spending a penny from his pocket as capital. Indian god ‘Kubera’ will lose his space and the Commissioner will stand in his place –with a long white grin in his face.

Carlos Montemayor (1947-2010): Just Visited the Earth

Carlos Montemayor: an extra ordinary

Writer, Political Activist, Linguist, Musician and a Common Man

I

Exactly one month back Carlos Montemayor said goodbye to the world. Waited for almost a month to see some obituary note about him appeared in some academic or literary journal from India. I am not sure how many people in India knew about Carlos Montemayor. Those who are familiar with Latin America, especially Latin American literature were very much aware about his existence. We expected a note, at least in his facebook, of K. Sachithanandan, former secretary of Sahitya Academy, who is known for his passion for Latin American literature. During his tenure in Sahitya Academy, he took initiative to bring Carlos Montemayor to India to participate in an international literature seminar.

It was exactly four years ago, he was here in Delhi to attend an international literature seminar on “Myth, Magic, History: Contemporary Fiction in Latin America and India”. Carlos Montemayor was one among the chief guests of Sahitya Academy who brought tallest literary figures from across South America. During his visit, he shared his views on modern Latin American literature; he found time to interact with authors, academicians and intellectuals in India.

Montemayor said his last bye to the good earth on the last day of February 2010. There is no doubt; his adieu is a huge loss for humanity. His death means, the humanity lost a genuine intellectual who took extraordinary effort to understand the language and culture of Indigenous people in Mexico. In fact, he spent a major portion of his life for bringing out the unknown literary traces of the native indigenous communities of Mexico. He was an expert of many disappearing indigenous languages and that makes his death as a bigger lost.

Carlos Montemayor started his literary career with poetry, a genre in which he has published such titles as The arms of Wind (1977), April and Other Poems (1979), Finisterra (1982) and April and other Stations. But, his popularity was connected with his novel War in paradise (1997), which documents the dirty war of the 1970s between the government of Mexico and the guerrillas of Lucio Cabañas. His other novels are Mal Stone (1980), Mines of Return (1982), The secret reports (1999), The arms of the dawn (2003) and Leakage (2007).

For me, the news about his death was a slight pain. Another person, very important, whom I met during my lifetime, passed away. I knew, I am not much familiar with his writings or activities, but the interaction with him for less than two hours was enough to convenience me about the depth and sharpness of his scholarship. I am very much thankful to my supervisor for passing information about his visit to the Centre in our University. Supervisor’s message said everything, the importance of the person, about the preparation should be taken before meeting. I was working with an organisation and took half day leave to attend the small session of our centre, yes, I did not forgot to find some writings about Carlos Montemayor.

II

Carlos Antonio Montemayor Aceves born in June 13, 1947 in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. His basic degree was in Law but later he expertise in indigenous languages from National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and also earned a degree in Oriental Studies from El Colegio de Mexico. He was fluent in a number of indigenous Mexican languages as well as classical languages like Greek, Latin, and Arabic. Along with his mother tong –Spanish, he effortlessly handled European languages such as French, Italian and English. His works in linguistics was recognised by a number of prestigious institutions, by electing him as a member and officer bearer, such as the Mexican Academy of Languages, Spanish Royal Academy and the Association of the 20th century Latin American and Afro-Caribbean Archives.

In linguistics, he developed a special taste to understand the indigenous Mexican oral tradition. Throughout his life, he explained himself as the lifelong researcher and indeed he was. His research was flowered between 1979 and 1980, when he prepared an anthology of Oaxacan storytellers, which was delineated in his book “Encounters with Oaxaca”. He added more works about the cultural and artistic background of the indigenous communities and translated them into Spanish. In fact, he lived as a link between the oral tradition of indigenous communities and the modern world literature. Another contribution from Montemayor to the humanity was the ‘Dictionary of Nahuatl’ an indigenous language -in Spanish.

Apart from his skills in linguistics, Montemayor was known for his interest in Music. He started his music lessons at the age of seven by learning to play guitar and piano. Later he developed the taste to understand and assimilate the tenor of operas of Puccini and Verdi and he incorporated this when he prepared the libretto for the opera Meeting at the Sunset, composed by Daniel Catan. He continued his music lessons in the School of Music, Madrid where he studied along with Roberto Bañuelas and Guadalupe Campos, to singing at the conservatory. For his musical skills, he was honoured with scholarships from the Fund for Culture Mexico/USA, Rockefeller Foundation, and he was recognised as the artist in residence in Bellagio Study and Conference Centre, Villa Serbelloni, Italy.

III

Beyond all these skills and special interests, he was more known for his political positions. He had his own way of understanding the political developments and was very keen to understand the problems of the voiceless people, in Mexico, the indigenous population. He supported the cause of Indigenous movement in Chiapas, broke out in 1994. As a person who closely observed the social and cultural life of indigenous communities in Mexico, Montemayor realised the paradoxical position of Mexican society towards the indigenous people. The paradox was visible in Mexican government’s attempt to create social programmes for the indigenous communities and on the other side, how the common man in Mexico counts the term ‘Indian’ with a negative charge. He explains it “in reality there was never respect or interest in special programmes in support of indigenous peoples. Mexico is a very racist country with a large racial discrimination, Mexico is ashamed of his Indian heritage, always looking for different racial accommodation and is a fracture that has not solved the country, so simple, so that the history of peoples Indians in Mexico is a story of dispossession, injustice, massacres, of marginalisation”.

Montemayor traces the roots of this attitude from the 500 year historical background of Mexico. He observers that the Mexicans always had a subservient attitude towards its northern neighbour and always keen to copy the way the US do things into its social system. In his view “our American countries beginning in the north, very racist country. America is a racist country so that not only wipes out the indigenous, mestizo people also has a deep contempt for Mexicans who says ‘smelly’, a deep contempt for blacks, including the current President Barack Obama, and his racism is a problem not culturally, is a structural problem, a political conflict, economic”.

As a political activist, he had a compassionate approach towards the revolutionary groups in Mexico. He was part of the Committee of Mediation which included journalist Miguel Angel Grandos Chapa, Archbishop Emeritus Samuel Ruiz etc., to initiate dialogue between the government of Mexico and the leftist People’s Revolutionary Army (EPR). In fact, his best known novel ‘War in Paradise’ is a fictional account of a real life guerrilla movement led by Lucio Cabanas in the 1970s and the government’s campaign against it. His latest work, ‘State Violence in Mexico’ has rolled out from the press on 2nd March 2010, two days after his death.

In his observation on the domestic politics of Mexico, there was no difference between the political parties. In his article, ‘Which PRI Wants to Win the Election?’, appeared in Latin American Perspectives (2006), he observe that there is no change in the political or economic policies of Mexico though after the change of 70 year old regime from the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), to the Partido Accion Nacional (PAN). The new regime is also continuing the policies of PRI and the main opposition party Partido de la Revolucion Democratica (PRD) is not a proper opposition and it is also an extension of former PRI. So, the people cannot expect a proper change in the economic or social policies of Mexican government.

IV

Death of Montemayor will remain as a huge lose for Mexico and the world, especially who loves literature and politics. In his short span of life, he did a lot for the humanity. His words will direct the emerging intellectuals to look into the life, culture and contributions of the marginalised people of Mexico –the indigenous community. With a big hope –that somebody will carry the mantle of intellectual power left in this world by Carlos Montemayor, further to enlighten the human civilisation.

Snippet: Carlos Montemayor was very much sympathetic towards the Zapatistas movement in Chiapas. His last book is also dealing with the issues regarding the uprising of EZLN in 1994. It was a sheer coincidence that his death was on the same day of the death of Ana Maria Zapata Portillo (94), the last surviving child of Mexican Revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata. She was one of the three children of Zapata who was killed in 1919. Ana Maria Zapata had worked for the Morelos state government and served as a lawmaker in the state legislature.

Sachin Tendulkar and his magical 200

Sachin Tendulkar’s double century in one day cricket was a unique achievement. By touching the magical number -200, he reached in a position where even god himself could not do anything against his greatness. The way one day cricket is changing, there is a high chance to break this record in less time. We can’t say who will do it, whether another Indian or an Australian or any player from cricket playing nations. But, Sachin will remain as the first player to get a double century in one day cricket. Even god will be helpless to make an amendment in his achievement. So, he is immortal.

I don’t remember who said it? He said that we Indians love only three things –Cricket, Movies and Politics. That time, I tried to challenge but he countered my arguments with examples and I surrendered. When India’s Sachin Tendulkar hit double century, I was thinking about his observation, again he proved his point. In fact, his double century literally killed the 2010 railway budget. Quiet interestingly, railway is another link, which connects the length and breadth of the country as a unifying component.

Next day, newspapers celebrated the victory of India against South Africa with colour photographs and several columns news in the front pages. Sachin’s record was undoubtedly unique and those who love the game were happier to see that it was done by Sachin only. In the peak hours of telecasting time, entire media shifted their focus from railway budget discussions to the day and night match happened in Gwalior.

As a player, Sachin completed two decades in International cricket and achieved almost everything in his name. He is the player who have maximum runs in both test and one day cricket, maximum number of centuries in both one day and test cricket and he was the Indian record holder of the highest Indian one day score of 186 runs. I appreciate his dedication for the game and patience to achieve the optimum position. In one day cricket, there were many promising batsmen did blasting knocks and crossed 100 in less balls. But, reaching another hundred requires few more things. Sachin showed patience, temperament and determination to achieve the highest level in the game.

Yes, my friend was right. Cricket has the magical power over the Indian people and Sachin, as a person, has the magic potion to do the mesmerizing influence on a large Indian crowd. Mamata Banerjee’s railway budget was evaporated from the primetime media and replaced by his innings and appreciations followed by. In fact, railway budget is the test dose on Indian economy and the dressed rehearsal for the Union budget which was followed in another few days.

One Sachin Tendulkar is enough to keep hold of Indian minds from high level political or economic actions. Thank god, Sachin was a very small boy during the days of emergency of 1975. That was the time Indian political leadership was looking for some item which can keep hold entire attention of the nation from the political developments especially engineered by the opposition. Kapil’s Devils took another 8 odd years to bring the cricket world cup to India and to propagate the game in Indian soil. Then information and broadcasting minister, V.C. Shukla, was looking for an effective remedy to divert attention of Indian public from the doings of political opposition and he ended up in Cinema. He choose the box office Hindi movie “Bobby” to show it in the only TV channel Doordarshan to keep the common people in front of television and divert their attention from the political opposition. Then, there was no Tendulkar to perform with his bat and keep entire India in front of television. His performance in Gwalior was good enough to show he has all such abilities to keep the nation on hold and draw its entire attention towards him.

Now I remember who told me that Cricket is one among the three components which really influence Indian people. It was my friend Tushar Kant, a fanatic fan of Indian cricket and a scholar in political science. I don’t know about his interest in Cinema but his observation is quiet relevant.

Gopalakrishnan -My friend

Before facebook and orkut, the friendship between people were actively remained alive by the presence of some very good friends. They stood for others, took initiative to built up friends network, keep everyone along, and supported each other whenever the support is required. When they say goodbye, that vacuum will remain forever.

Today, my dearest friend Gopalakishnan did the same. For last twenty five years, he was the hub of my friendship circle. Everyone who studied, in Maharajas College, between 1984 and 1991 will definitely experience the warmth of Gopalji. A generation passed out from Maharajas in more than a decade span remained in the folds of his friendship. He kept the connections updated, remembered each and every bits and spots of our colourful college life and blew it alive when we meet each other. I didn't get a chance to attend any of the get-together programmes of my college but never got a feeling that I missed it, it was just because of people like Gopalakrishnan, Rajesh, Jerrit etc. The gap between our meetings will be years but never felt the gap and it was just because of the vibrant personality of Gopalakrishnan.

I was fortunate to spend almost 5 years together with Gopalakrishnan in the college. After leaving the college, he was the inspiration to visit the place again. Just a few minute meeting, it is enough to know about all my contemporaries. He will start..daa, i met your history friend on such place, then your pre-degree friend at some other ocassion. He was connected with all of us and kept our friendship in a large circle lively. If there is a need, first name will appear in our mind was Gopalakrishnan. He can help you, or direct you to whom or where we will get support. Blood was another link with us. He was well informed about the blood groups of each friends and whenever it is required, he will be first person get activated. I was always on the other end. Call will come, Ravi, somebody is looking for your blood, please come. That's all, and enough, i will be there in an hour. This is same to anyone in our group.

Now, he is no more to do such things. The world is too harsh to the people who think about others. Concern and empathy are two words, which is disappearing from the modern world. Gopalan had both. The moment we got to know about his health problem, we all were praying for his life and waited for positive results. Everything went updown. There was no good news from the other end of the telephone. Still, we expected some miracle to happen. Nothing happend.... he decided to listen the call from almighty and bid adieu from the world. It is a lost for the generation of 1980s and 1990s of Maharajas. We lost a very rare friend, a hub of all friends. But, dear friend, you will remain in our memories ...