NEWS: European football league is a bit hit on Delhi campuses

----------------------------------------------------------
Archives:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goanet2003/
----------------------------------------------------------

Europe football league is a big hit on Delhi campuses

By Raghu Menon, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS) Cricket might still be a religion in India but
among college youth, particularly in Delhi, football is increasingly carving
a niche for itself.

European leagues and club championships have become the flavour of the youth
in university campuses in the Indian capital. With most weekends heavily
booked for watching league fixtures broadcast live on sports channels,
sports viewing and following have taken on new proportions.

"The game, the atmosphere and the rivalry in these football leagues is
simply awesome," said Abbas Khan, a journalism student in Delhi University.

"Europe offers the crème de la crème of world football, so why wouldn't
football fanatics anywhere in the world be attracted?"

"I find football more lively than cricket," contended Arun Vishwanathan of
the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). "The professionalism, much more than
the big bucks, is what draws me and scores of others towards the game."

Says another student, Snehasish Das of Hansraj College: "Football classifies
as a fast game and that is primarily why this defection towards the game."

Europe arguably has the finest football leagues in the world. Even among
them, the English Premier League (EPL), the Spanish La Liga and the Italian
Serie A are followed the most in the universities.

The EPL, by and large, is the favourite among students. "EPL appeals to most
people due to the glamour, money and teams at stake," said Ishan Russell, an
English literature student of Delhi University.

"Besides, it's the only league that's televised extensively."

Gaurav Bansal of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, believes
that "EPL has its shortcomings like the domination by four major teams. The
'La Liga' is really exciting as the big teams are so often upset while the
'lesser' teams quite often showcase some invigorating football.

"Club football is a big hit with students in IIT as the game, especially in
Europe, is just so fascinating."

On how football, at least in colleges, is scoring over cricket there are
various theories.

"Football is a shorter game (90 minutes) while cricket occupies almost the
entire day," said Jyoti Kocchar, another Delhi University student who does
not share the average Indian's passion for cricket.

"The aim in these leagues is to come out victors at the end of the rigorous
year-long season and not just the one-off or five-day period contests."

Football fever grips India once in four years during the World Cup, although
the game has large following in West Bengal, Kerala and Goa. However sports
channels broadcasting some of the league events live, the fast-paced game
has gained new following across India.

"To follow a club's exploits around the season is a religion in itself,"
said Das. "The way I follow Arsenal is matched by fans of Liverpool and
Manchester United, and that just adds an interesting angle to our small
football talks."

Club jerseys are another craze on the campus. Although not many sports
stores in the Indian capital stock them, the few which do a decent business.

"Club jerseys are an example of the loyalty that's building towards the game
in general and clubs in particular," said Sourav Datta, an economics
student.

"It just might be the latest haute couture for some but the ones who worship
the game know what the colour means to them."

Mention of India's own National Football League is brushed off with an
amused look by most.

"A few days back I was watching a league clash between a depleted East
Bengal and an equally under strength Mohun Bagan in Kolkata," narrated Das.
"After watching European league matches, I was appalled at the standard of
the game."

"European football is fast emerging as a popular sport across India due to
the advantage of accessibility," a spokesperson for ESPNSTAR told IANS.

"No longer do football fans need to wait for delayed broadcasts of important
fixtures as most of the action is live these days."

--Indo-Asian News Service

WANT TO check out which mailing lists you could subscribe to? Send a blank 
email message to goanet-request-fkB0aodkGtPQT0dZR+AlfA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
========================================================================
Ongoing: Exhibition of paintings, Art Chamber, Calangute www.goa-art.com
Dec 23-Jan 7: Dayanita Singh's photo exhibition, Art House Tel 2276123
Jan  18-19: International kite carnival at Morgim beach, Pernem
========================================================================