Corporates take up the cause of football. Despite low returns, some of them have firmly planted their feet in the game.
As cliched as it may sound, there’s no money in Indian football. Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia says, “There are many companies supporting Indian football. But we need more companies to come forward and support the game. We need more money into the game.” Here is a list of a few industrialists who are rooting for the game despite the fact that returns are bare mimimum.
RATAN TATA
Tata Group of Industries runs a full-time coaching and conditioning camp (Tata Football Academy) in Jamshedpur. Another arm of the company, Tata Tea, has been sponsoring a country-wide soccer competition for three years. They have
recently sent some of the best talents of the game (16 players) for training at the English Premier League Club, Arsenal.
The Soccer Stars Round (the programme) has been officially recognised by the Limca Book of Records as India’s largest Under-15 football tournament amongst maximum
venues.
ANAND MAHINDRA
Forget about the criticism about disbanding the age-old club Mahindra United, Anand Mahindra has started focusing on developing the game at ‘the grassroot level’. He says, “This is an important day for us as we move from competitive football and focus our energies and efforts in training young football aficionados. Mahindra United has been an integral part of our legacy and journey in football. We are proud of our team — the players, support staff, and management — who have brought both Mahindra United and Brand Mahindra success and respect.”
RAJ SALGAONCAR
One of the most well-known industrialist families of Goa runs one of the oldest football clubs of the country. Illustrious football players and Arjuna awardees like Bruno Coutinho, Bramhanand Shankhwalkar have been associated with this club for a long time.
Raj’s father VM Salgaoncar had a tremendous passion for the game and treated the club as his baby. The legacy is being carried forward by Raj who is married to Dipti, Dhirubhai Ambani’s daughter and Mukesh and Anil Ambani’s sister. Raj and Mukesh are childhood friends.
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