There are now just a few days until the Leo Messi tour of India. For India’s football fans, it is a major moment of joy. To see the world’s greatest footballer in their midst just six months before the World Cup is truly significant. Yet many, as is often the case in India, have raised questions about the visit: What’s the point of spending this kind of money? What benefit will this have for Indian football, if any? Why spend on this instead of grassroots football?
First things first: Satadru Dutta is no social reformer. He is a sports promoter who organises events for a living. Like everyone else, he is entitled to do what he chooses. He is doing something he enjoys and has never taken on the responsibility of bringing Indian football back on track. Expecting him to develop Indian football is to miss the point completely.
Second, many concerts take place in India during the winter. Stars from across the globe visit this part of the world, and the trend is growing every year. This is simply another such event — only the star here is a sportsperson rather than someone from music or culture. There is nothing wrong with what is being done. Yes, things need to be planned and executed well. But to jump the gun and criticise is to misunderstand the purpose.
With this Messi visit, people are at least talking about football in India. Otherwise, football is often in the news only for the wrong reasons, with no clarity on the ISL or the I-League. The Maharashtra government is also launching a grassroots talent-hunt initiative alongside the visit, and that in itself is a step forward.
I am aware that Satadru has worked for months and years on this. That alone should be reason enough for people to wish him well and hope the visit is successful. Yes, there are issues he will need to be mindful of, and I am sure he will be. Given what recently happened at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, he must pay close attention to crowd management and security protocols. With the visit being tightly scheduled, security management will be crucial. You don’t want fans to miss out on the action, but you also need to ensure that things don’t get out of control.
As part of the media, it is essential that we wish the visit every success. If Satadru makes money from it, he is fully entitled to do so. He has worked the hardest, and he has worked for months. He has a family to support and a child to raise. We all need money, and no one should grudge him that. What must be paramount is the issue of crowd management. He has plans to unveil a statue, for example, and that is where security will have to be paramount, especially in and around the lanes of Lake Town in Kolkata.
Here’s wishing Satadru and everyone associated with the tour all the very best. May it go according to plan, and may fans enjoy seeing the world’s greatest footballer.
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