INDIAN FOOTBALL
Written by: Arindam Sain
Episode:
01
Manish Singh (Commentator of Bharat
Khel TV Channel):- Goalll! What a goal at the 87th minute of the
match! Sunil Roy, one of the best strikers of the Indian Football Team scored a
goal to give India, the lead of 2-1 against Iran in the Decisive Qualifier
Match of the FIFA World Cup 2034.
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An Indian inside the Mohun Bagan Club:
- Uff! Indian Team just need to maintain that lead for a few minutes. 5 minutes
injury time! Oh! No! Iran has got a corner kick. Ooooh! It was so close. Well
done! Sangram Mukherjee. Really, our Indian Goalkeeper rocks!
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Manish
Singh (Commentator of Bharat Khel TV Channel):- Referee blew the final whistle.
For the first time ever, Indian Football Team has qualified for the World Cup
Football and that too in its 25th version. India will play in the
World Cup Football of 2034. That’s a real breaking news for India as of now.
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Mrs. Nandini Nandi (Senior Editor
of Royal Bengal News TV Channel):- Hello! Where are you?
Arindam (Journalist of Royal
Bengal News TV Channel):- At home only. Right now, I am enjoying the Mutton
Biriyani which has been cooked by my mother. Kasa Rewazi Mutton Curry is the
side dish with it.
Mrs. Nandini Nandi:- Few minutes
ago, I enjoyed Chinese foods in Mainland China with my hubby. But after hearing
your food menu, again I am feeling hungry. Ok! Jokes apart! Now listen to me.
Our Boss, Mr. Sain has instructed that you must invite Mr. Rajanikanth Modi in
your show, ‘WINE WITH ARINDAM’ next week. India has qualified for the FIFA
World Cup Football of 2034. So, you can understand that one Interview session
can increase the TRP ratings of our TV Channel.
Arindam:- Ok! Done! Over and out!
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Arindam:- Hello! Viewers! You are
watching your favourite show, ‘WINE WITH ARINDAM’ and today in this show, we
have invited Mr. Rajanikanth Modi, the coach of Indian Football Team. Welcome
Sir! Welcome to our show.
Rajanikanth Modi:- Thank you!
This is really a nice studio.
Arindam:- Come on! Sir! Let us
have some Red Wine with Spicy Paneer Pakodas and Masala Cauliflower cum
Mushroom Pakodas. We got the information beforehand that you are a vegetarian.
Rajanikanth Modi:- Thank you! Cheers!
Arindam:- Cheers! So, Sir! How
are you feeling after such a success of the Indian Football Team? We also used
to dream in our childhood days that one day our Indian Football Team will play
in the FIFA World Cup of Football.
Rajanikanth Modi:- Yeah! That
dream has been fulfilled. I dedicate this success to my father, Late Rajendra
Modi. If today, I am talking with you as a successful coach of Indian Football
Team, then full credit goes to my dad. My grandfather, Robin Modi was a Cloth
Merchant. He converted his religion to Christianity and settled down in
Birmingham. My dad, Rajendra Modi was born and brought up in Birmingham. Rajendra
Modi even played at 2nd Class Team of Birmingham Football Club (BFC)
for 3 years. Then he started looking after my grandfather’s business. Rajendra
Modi married Sonali Sengupta, a Hindu Girl of Bristol and got converted to
Hinduism. Few years later, I took birth and on that same year, my grandfather,
Robin Modi expired due to cardiac arrest.
Arindam:- What happened to the
family business in Birmingham after your grandfather’s death?
Rajanikanth Modi:- Financial
Recession took place in Europe. Many factories of Modi Corporation got closed,
but, my father, Rajendra Modi never surrendered. He continued the family
business and started opening up new factories in Kolkata, Asansol, Durgapur and
Jamshedpur. Slowly and steadily, my father closed down all the business in
Birmingham and settled down in Jamshedpur. I was just a Class V student, when
my family members migrated from Birmingham to Jamshedpur.
Arindam:- Coming back to the
roots again. That’s great. Your father opened up the First Football Academy of
India and that too in Bishnupur Area of Jamshedpur. Why he opened that Academy?
Was it also a part of the business?
Rajanikanth Modi:- No, it was
just passion. Passion about Football! My dad tried to open up an Academy at
Birmingham itself, but due to financial crunch and too much complex legal
process of Birmingham, he failed to do so. But, in Jamshedpur, he got full
support from the local administration. He named the Football Academy as ‘TITAN
FOOTBALL ACADEMY’ (TIFA). This Academy is still supplying some skilled and
talented footballers to different football clubs of India.
Arindam:- You are having a good
football academy like TIFA. Even FIFA Officials have given a decent rating to
your TIFA. My question is that why have you opened up your own football club,
when TIFA footballers are getting chances in other football clubs?
Rajanikanth Modi:- No! The
picture is not so rosy for the game of football in India. Good footballers of
India come from poor families and they remain poor even after playing so many
football matches for the whole life. Politics is also ruining the career of
good footballers. So many footballers of our academy became the victims of
politics played by the owners of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and other reputed
clubs of India. I was also a footballer for 10 years. I have played for
Churchill Brothers, Dempo and Mohun Bagan in my football career. In our times,
there was no such politics. Our coaches used to focus more on Indian players.
But, nowadays, the situation has reversed. All the football clubs of India are
running after 3rd class foreign players, be it from Nigeria, Ghana,
Brazil, Japan or Australia. What about our talented Indian footballers? Who
will give them a chance to play on a national level? I created a new football
team, ‘ROYAL INDIAN TIGERS ASSOCIATION (RITA)’ where not a single foreign footballer
to be included in the squad. My wife, Rita is the Secretary cum Treasurer of
the team. Last year only, RITA won the I-League and 7 footballers playing in
the current squad of Indian football team are from RITA only.
Arindam:- Did you ever thought that
your players will create such a magic to qualify for the FIFA World Cup
Football of 2034?
Rajanikanth Modi:- It is not
magic. It is hard work with full dedication. We were so nearer to qualify for
the FIFA World Cup Football of 2026 and 2030, but we failed to do so. It was
like, ‘So near, yet so far.’ But, this time, we succeeded in it.
Arindam:- That time, you were not
the coach. You took charge as the Indian Coach in 2029 only. So, what changes
you have made in your team to make them perform better?
Rajanikanth Modi:- Disciplined
Training! That’s the keyword. Practice makes a man perfect. I and my Assistants
made our boys to practice everything in details. Be it Corner Kicks, Free
Kicks, Penalty Shootouts etc. from any angle. Our boys practiced it hard in a
disciplined manner and it really counts.
Arindam:- Yeah! Discipline! It is
a very tough word for Indians. British people had one good quality and that
was; Discipline. Indians learned everything from the British people but failed
to learn about Discipline. See the fun!
Rajanikanth Modi:- Ha ha ha. But,
mentality of the young Indians are changing nowadays. They are ready to accept
any challenge and fight for victory.
Arindam:- Ok! Just the last
question! Will India reach the Quarter Final of the World Cup of 2034?
Rajanikanth Modi:- We are
targeting to lift that World Cup of 2034.
Arindam:- No! No! It is too much
now. Be a dreamer, not a day dreamer.
Rajanikanth Modi:- If you want to
get at least 80% marks in exam, then you must target to get 90% marks. Similarly,
if we set a target to play the final match of the World Cup, then probably, at
least, we can reach till quarter final. These are just human psychology. Always
keep your targets higher than your actual expectations; otherwise, your
business will not prosper with profitability.
Arindam:- It’s been nice to talk
with you, Sir! Wishing Best of Luck to the Indian Football Team in the FIFA
World Cup of 2034! Thanks for coming to our show. Viewers! That’s all from our
studio today. See you again next time. Till then, have a nice time. Goodbye!
