"Association needs to put more focus on grass root level:" Debabrata Biswas, coach of Provat Lakra and other ISL stars

In an exclusive interview with Sportz Point, Debabrata Biswas, coach of ISL player like Provat Lakra said more focus should be on grassroot.

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Koushik Biswas
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Indian Football team just qualified for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup in 2023. Meanwhile, the new IFA Secretary Anirban Dutta has stated that they will be giving more focus to CFL and district leagues around Bengal. In addition, Igor Stimac's statement on bringing more teams and competition to the ISL has brought a new force of positive mindset in Indian Football scene. Debabrata Biswas, famously known as Kaju sir among his students echoes all of these positive thinking to improve the Indian Football scene. He shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

Young kids playing at Kalyani Municipal Academy under Debabrata Biswas | Sportz Point Speaks

Future stars of Indian football.

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"We need to support players from the grassroot levels:" Debabrata Biswas

Debabrata Biswas has coached ISL stars like Provat Lakra and Sandip Mandi. Along with them, few I-League stars like Raj Basfore has trained under him. He believes, the mistake Indian football or everyone out there do is clapping for athletes when they have made it. "We need to support them, when they have nothing to eat. Everyone needs to be with them when they think about their financial conditions before playing football. We know how it is hard for us to make them come to practice when there is no food guaranteed for them at the end of the day," Debabrata Biswas expressed.

Bengal and Indian football always have been dominated by players from districts and villages far from the limelight of mega cities. That is why, nurturing the players when they are young is important. United Sports Club helps the coaching camp as both the teams practice there at the same ground. "United helps us a lot. Many of our young players play for them. So, they get the taste of professional football very early, which is great," Debabrata Biswas told Sportz Point.

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Emphasize should be given to nursery leagues

Pradyot Dutta, the father of the current IFA Secretary Anirban Dutta had started the Nursery league in Kalyani. Debabrata Biswas hopes the new President will focus on the nursery league as well as that is the birthplace of future football stars. "You will see tournaments for senior players everywhere. Even the leagues are standard as well. But, if the nursery league is strong, we will get many more upcoming talents. That is why more matches and tournaments are important. More they play, more the learn," kids' favourite Kaju Sir added.

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Debabrata Biswas keeping an eye at his players.

He further believes that, Igor Stimac's plan to make ISL more competitive with promotion and relegation is revolutionary. According to him, "if we take a look at the European players and teams, they all play nearly 60+ matches a year. We need to adopt that as well."

"Credit should be given to ISL:" Debabrata Biswas

Debabrata Biswas was very much impressed with the Indian team in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. As per him, this is the best he has seen the Indian team play in many years. Moreover, he feels, ISL has had a lot to do with this. "The physicality we have shown against teams like Afghanistan and fast football against teams like Hong Kong was outstanding. Truly speaking, this is he product of ISL where Indian players go and express themselves against foreign players. Sunil should get a lots of credit for the discipline and fitness he has brought to this team," he added.

Read Also: India and Afghanistan players involved in ugly brawl after AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match

With everything going with Indian football currently and few positive decisions made, there are still lot need to be done. Debabrata Biswas feels, leagues like CFL must have more Indian players. In that case, he wants the association to limit the number of foreign players to one or two in the playing eleven. According to him, this will give more matches to Indian players and they will have more exposure as well.

Young kids playing at Kalyani Municipal Academy under Debabrata Biswas | Sportz Point Speaks

Young kids playing at Kalyani Municipal Academy under Debabrata Biswas.

What should be the plan to make Indian football better?

Moreover, he feels if the All India Football Federation and the coaches of the National setup gives a sketch of their game plan and formation to the state, clubs and grassroots coach, then they will be able to make the boys ready for donning the blue jersey. "If you look at Spain and clubs like Barcelona or Bayern Munich and Germany they all play with same kind of structure. So, if the ISL teams or grassroot academies like us start to train the boys in that format, that can be very much beneficial."

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