This Article First Appeared In Forbesindia On Oct 20, 2022.
A moment from a presentation ceremony in mid-September at the conclusion of one of India’s oldest and most prestigious tournaments was perhaps the best metaphor for the state of Indian football, indeed Indian sport.
Now billed as the opener to the Indian football season, with the participation of top clubs from the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League (along with teams from the Services), the Durand Cup was recently played across three cities—Imphal, Guwahati and Kolkata—and five venues. Stadiums were packed, a fresh crop of young players got an opportunity to shine on the big stage—the games were broadcast live—and the capacity crowd at the Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal fixture at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata had old-timers reminiscing about the glory days of the derby…