Poor infrastructure cost Indian football: Survey
NEW DELHI: Most fans in India believe that football has not seen global success in the country due to the lack of infrastructure, a survey revealed on Friday.
According to the study, 47 percent fans felt that lack of infrastructure was the reason behind India's inability to shine globally while 26 percent said poor recognition was the key factor affecting the growth.
"47 percent of the participants believe that football hasn't seen global success in India because of lack of infrastructure, whereas 26 percent believe it to be the lack of recognition," the espn Fantastic survey, which saw over 1000 Indian football fans voting said.
On the other hand, 48 percent of the fans voted for Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho as the best English Premier League (EPL) coach while 27 percent fans below the age of 18 voted for Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola.
After 18 matches in the EPL, City lead the table with 52 points while United are seated second with 41.
Contradicting the choice of the Indian fans former Scottish footballer Craig Burley said: "Jose Mourinho may have the best CV in terms of trophies won, at various clubs, some smaller than the ones man- aged by Pep, obviously thinking towards Porto in particular, where Jose started.
"However, I think if 99% of club owners were to pick a manager, maybe even if a 100% were to pick a manager between the two, it would be Guardiola."
Former Venezuelan foot- baller Alejandro Moreno also backed Burley saying: "It is difficult to gravitate towards a Jose Mourinho team, when you have all that talent at your disposal and you choose to be defensive, you choose to be counter attacking and you choose to be very negative towards your approach to the game. It is more exciting and a whole lot more entertaining to watch Manchester City play."
When asked about the team to win Champions League, 48 per cent fans voted for English football giants Manchester United.
"48 percent fans are rooting for Manchester United to win the league. However, the youth, below 18 years old, strongly feels that Manchester City, also known as Pep Guardiola's 'The Unbeatables', are equally competitive and more likely to win the league given their successive run," the statement read.
Refuting the finding, Moreno said: "Well those older fans are probably hanging on to whatever they grew up watching -- Manchester United were a team which was always going to find a way to win games in Fergie's time. But that's not happening today. I feel, the younger generation has got it right. This season has run away with Manchester City, and United are just keeping up and that's all." MUMBAI: The upcom- ing three-test series between India and hosts South Africa has been named as "Freedom Series."
"This tour was originally labelled the Friendship Series it was South Africa's way of reciprocating India's efforts in ending the country's sporting isolation in 1991.
"India had been among the principal opponents of apartheid. The Freedom Series was felt by both nations to be a be more fitting name in recognition of South Africa's and India's shared history of winning freedom through nonviolence, not to mention their shared love of cricket!" said a media release issued by Cricket South Africa.
Two countries have agreed to name all future test series: The Freedom Series.
A specially designed Freedom Series Trophy Podium will also commemorate the landmark series and will be unveiled in a special ceremony ahead of the first Test, commencing in Cape Town on January 5, 2018.
The last two Tests are scheduled to be played at Centurion (from January 13) and Johannesburg (from January 24). JAIPUR: His unbeaten run notwithstanding, Indian boxing star Vijender Singh is not taking anything for granted as he gears up to defend his WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental titles against Ghana's Ernest Amuzu here on Saturday. The 32-year-old would be squaring off against Amuzu in a Super Middleweight clash.
"It is a matter of just one good punch and the bout is decided. Many a times we have seen that lower-ranked boxers defeat their much higher-rated rivals. I am not taking anything easy," Vijender said on the eve of the fight.
"It is often said that everything is fair in love and war this bout is also like a war. If his morale is down I would be happy," he added.
Vijender also spoke about being challenged by British star Amir Khan despite the fact that the two boxers are in altogether different weight categories.
Khan competes in the light welterweight division and his decision of jumping to even welterweight had ended in a knockout loss. Vijender, on the other hand, is placed even higher at super middleweight.
But the Indian nonetheless is not averse to a contest if it ever becomes practically possible.
"I have heard enough of challenges he has been throwing to me. I feel we should now face each other. I am willing to take him on and would like to fight against him next year," he said. Khan is a former Olympic silver-medallist and has been former light welterweight world champion in the pro circuit.