MUMBAI: In what seems like the biggest blow to Indian football in a long time, Mahindra United, one of the country's top clubs, will no longer feature in competitive football from next season.
The shock decision comes in the wake of the company deciding to channel its resources to a nation-wide school-level initiative instead. The club had recently launched an initiative with the NBA to cultivate a community-based basketball league.
Two days ago, TOI had reported about the trouble brewing within the Mahindra camp as players hadn't heard about a renewal in contracts and were contemplating moves to other clubs.
The decision, that is bound to have big implications on the I-League, the country's top-tier football competition, was in the planning five months ago while the unsuspecting team was battling for on-field bragging rights.
The club had steadily built a reputation of playing some of the finest football apart from possessing six national players among their ranks. It even had a fine youth system and excellent facilities that made it one of the few clubs in the country to run the sport professionally. But all that will be history when the next season starts.
"It was a very big and difficult decision but we discussed this over a period of time. We felt the need to reach out to talent at the school level after noticing a stagnancy in talent at the top level. It's the same players moving around all clubs. New talent hasn't come out," club chairman Alan Durante told TOI on Friday.
The company ruled out feasibility as a reason for switching off club operations.
"Money isn't the criteria as the new venture would also require us to channel funds there. We are doing this in the best interest of football rather than sticking to legacy. We've won everything and it's now time to create a bigger connect. Again, soccer has never been a commercial venture in India," he said.
Mahindra vice-chairman and managing director Anand Mahindra in fact seemed positive about the development.
"It is an important day for us as we move from competitive football and focus our energies and efforts in training young football affocianados. We will be able to reach out to many more youngsters, unearth new talent and provide them the opportunity to play on a national platform," he said in a statement.
Stung by the criticism, Mahindra tweeted in the evening: "So many Mumbai voices lamenting our pullback from professional soccer. Never heard them when we needed their attendance & support at our matches."
Ironically, the move even means curtains on the U-19 squad that only just grabbed the lone spot to play the Elite Division in the Mumbai league.
While the company's bright plan for the future sounds rewarding, the present is more than bleak to say the least. It is, in no uncertain terms, a sad day for Indian football.
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