Famous Football

27 Crore people active in Football

The success of FIFA's extensive investment in the development of football worldwide seems to be leaving its mark not only with regard to increasing match attendances and TV audiences but also with regard to the number of people around the globe who actually play the game according to the latest figures.

With 265 million male and female players and a further five million referees, coaches and other officials, a grand total of 270 million people, or four per cent of the world's population, are involved in football. These are the impressive findings of the Big Count 2006, a FIFA survey of its member associations (207 at the time), which, having first been conducted in 2000, was repeated last year with the same criteria to provide an interesting insight into the growth of football worldwide.

"Football's popularity remains undiminished and is actually increasing," reflected FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter with satisfaction on the results of the survey. "If you count the relatives and close friends of active participants in football, who share in their passion for the game as fans and support them in other ways, the total number is even more impressive: well over a billion people worldwide are involved in football - at all levels of society and across all borders."

Here are some of the most important findings of the Big Count 2006:

* The overall total of 265 million male and female players is almost ten per cent higher than the number recorded six years ago (242 million). Of the 265 million, 26 million or around ten per cent are women.

* Since 2000, the number of registered male and female footballers has increased by around 23 per cent to over 38 million.

* The growth in women's football is particularly striking, with the number of registered players up 54 per cent to 4.1 million, while the number of registered players in the men's game has likewise seen an increase of 21 per cent to 34.2 million.

* The number of unregistered occasional players, which was first recorded in the previous Big Count study, is up seven per cent to 226 million.

* There is now a combined total of over one million futsal and beach soccer players (both male and female)

* In terms of regional differences, the AFC (85 million footballers) has a clear lead over the other five confederations (UEFA: 62 million; CAF: 46 million; CONCACAF: 43 million; CONMEBOL: 27 million; OFC: 0.5 million). However, if the proportion of footballers to the total population is taken into account, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and UEFA are ahead of the other confederations with seven per cent each.

* The number of clubs (301,000) is similar to the figure recorded in 2000. That said, the total number of teams (1.7 million) has increased by approximately 200,000. The data for Big Count 2006 was collated in the first half of 2006 using a traditional questionnaire and an online survey and achieved a response rate of over 75 per cent. FIFA used Big Count 2000, a UEFA survey from 2005 and other internal surveys to supplement missing data from associations and as a plausibility check. The study was scientifically observed by Lamprecht & Stamm SFB AG, a social research company based in Zurich.

Everything for Political Mileage?

Hardworking Biharis : Why to Beat them?

Every state is against them. Wherever they go they are beaten hardly with sticks. Not only in Maharashtra but in Bengal, Assam and Delhi also natives are against them. Yes I am talking about Bihari people who work hard, go anywhere in India for work and their financial expectations are very low.

Localites are against this Biharis. Not only Shivsena but Communist, Assam Gana Parishad and Congress also against Bihari people in some states. Recently Chief Minister of Delhi Mrs. Sheela Dixit gave controversial comment against Biharis in Delhi. Bihari came to Delhi and because of them conditions are worst. Every Bihari politician was upset with this statement and there was so much pressure on Congress that they ordered Mrs. Dixit to pull back her statement.
In West Bengal and Assam also Biharis were not only beaten but they were killed in some areas as very much anger was aginst them. In Assam condition was so worst that it was Hindi-speaking state were thinking of boycotting the recently held National Games there. But government gave assurance to particular associations and they participated in games.

In Maharashtra one cannot tell another story about Biharis. Few years back when Raj Thackrey was in Shivsena, at that time he had beaten the Bihari candidates who were present for Railway Exam at Kalyan-Dombivali. Shivsena had beaten them so badly that issue was raised in Parliament. Sena was firm on stand they continue their beating programmes all over Maharashtra.

Now Raj Thackrey has left Shivsena but he is still working on his agenda. They again beat Bihari candidates who were present in Pune for Railway Examination Center. This is because advertisement of this Railway exam was not given in any Marathi newspaper. It was published in other parts of country and that’s why only two Marathi candidates were present for exam and this is not done, as per Maharashtra Navamnirman Sena’s viewpoint.

One point of MNS is correct that such advertisements should be given in Marathi newspapers or we can say Indian language newspaper. Because of this everybody will get opportunity to appear for examination. This point is valid. But is it right to go at exam center and beat Biharis or outsider students? I think he should again think over this.

Another thing is that government is publishing Employment News, which is a weekly and you will get n number of advertisements from various departments of Government of India. Those who are really interested and eager for employment are regular readers of such newspapers and they will get such opportunities. Why don’t Raj Thackrey tell their supporters or workers of MNS to read `Employment News`? Do they have any problem with English reading? Or they just want to get political mileage through such events?

Everybody will be agreeing that localities should get first priority. Shivsena has also done lot of work in this issue with `Sthanik Lokadhikar Samiti`. They have also protested in the favor of local peoples. Fighted against Multinationals and out of Maharashtra companies, but they had prepared the candidates properly. Given appropriate training to them. Why don’t Raj work on this line.

One more point is that Raj has opened `Shiv Udyog Sena` when he was with Balasaheb Thackrey. That time he collected lot of money in the name of Shiv Udyog Sena. To provide employment for youth was motive behind this. Motive was good. But did that motive really came in reality? What happened of that money and how much employment was generated? Mr. Raj you should give answer to this questions and then you go ahead with agenda of beating peoples. You used public money for that Shiv Udyog Sena and you should be answerable to people.

Keep aside all this things and let us discuss the mentality of Bihari peoples. Firstly as there are not many opportunities in Bihar they are ready to travel in any part of country for employment, for work, for money. Marathi youth is ready for this travel? You can observe any bihari worker or labour, he is working for 10 to 12 hours sincerely withouth doing any time pass. And most important is that they are cheap compaired to Marathi or any other labor. Their charges are 50 percent less to any other worker. This is the reason that why Bihairs are more popular than local workers and labor.

Why should go too far. Lets take example of Biharis in Mumbai. They come all along from Patana or remote parts of Bihar. They drive taxis or work as labor with some contractors. They sleep on streets, on the roof of shops, on footpaths, in Taxis. Take bath in Public bathrooms. This kind of compromising mentality is not of any Marathi youth of worker. That’s why Mumbai is flooded with Biharis and Bhayyas.

When I was in Assam the cycle rickshaw Puller were all Biharis. They will get hardly two to three rupees after one to two kilometer paddling. But they are working hard in those conditions also because they have no alternative to hard work. In West Bengal also most of the port workers and Collies are Biharis. Reason is same as above.

Though they are creating problems for native youths or workers, there is no alternative to Biharis. Economics is with Biharis and that’s why no one can throw Biharis out of their state. That’s why instead of beating Bihairs Raj Thackrey should think over this and reframe the agenda. Beating them should not solve any problems.

When I was in Hyderabad

Remembering Mecca Masjid…

When I saw flash on television about Blast in Hyderabad, my mind goes two years back and I remember each and every minute that we spent in Mecca Masjid and Charminar.

Hyderabad is no doubt Muslim dominated city, which is divided in two, viz. Muslim dominated and Hindu dominated areas. Central part of Hyderabad, which is famous as old Hyderabad is, has Muslim domination. Outskirts area of city and Secundarabad is Hindu dominated. There is one Muslim Member of Parliament and about five Muslim member of legislative assembly from old Hyderabad. This is enough for explanation of dominancy of Muslim population in the city.

Coming back to topic of Mecca Masjid, it was built by Aurangjeb around 400 years back and it is India’s second big Masjid after Jama Masjid of Delhi. Capacity wise around 10 to 12 thousand Muslims can pray Namaz at a time in this Masjid. This Masjid is fully crowded and some people pray on roads also when it is Jumme ki Namaz and Namaz during month of Ramzan. That is the reason why terrorists selected Jumma for blasts.

One of the largest mosques in India, Mecca Masjid has a capacity to accommodate about 10,000 worshippers. The biggest mosque in Hyderabad, Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah started the construction of this mosque. The works continued during the reigns of Abdullah Qutub Shah and Abul Hassan Tana Shah and was finally completed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1694. It has special hall for Muslim women to pray. When you enter in Masjid there is specially built water tank for devotees. It is expected when you go inside you should wash your legs and hands. Even Hindus can go inside and get informed about things there.

This Masjid is just near to world famous Charminar and Laad Bazar, which is famous for Bangles and specialty of Hyderabad that is Motis. One more specialty of this area is that as Muslim population is more there are so many hotels where you will get best Biryani during full year and Haleem in the month of Ramzan. In this area only lot of workers are engaged full day in preparing silver foil, which is, used in decorating Sweets and other delicious food. So whenever you go in that area you can hear voice of hammering and see lot of shops beside Mecca Masjid.

We used to go in Charminar area once in two months. All (Myself and My roommates) of us are fan of Biryani. Shadab, Pista and Madina are some prominent Biryani Houses there. We use to go there and enjoy biryani. After biryani one special item we liked to eat. That is `Krubani Ka Meetha`. So whenever we go there we used to visit Charminar, Mecca Masjid and Laad Bazar. We used to go here and there enjoy the feel there and then eat Chicken Biryani. This is the reason why we went near about seven to eight times there in Mecca Masjid.


There were some police persons and security guards around Mecca Masjid area. But you cannot imagine that, not a single security person is there to check the persons who are going inside for Namaz or whatever be the reason. This is the flaw and terrorists take advantage of that. After Malegaon blasts also security was not tighten there. This might be the reason for blasts, which took, place today afternoon.

I think this is happened just because negligence of state government and State Police Force.

Kahi Khushi Kahi Gam...

Hockey lose, Archery gains!!!

Sports Ministry's decision to drop hockey from the priority list might have caught everyone by surprise, but the government's grant to the federation has been steadily cut over last three years. Indian Hockey Federation received Rs. 194.21 lakh in 2004-05 but there was a drastic cut the following year and the federation got only Rs. 96.46 lakh from the government purse for promotion of the game in the country. The amount went down further to Rs. 92.09 lakh in the last financial year (2006-07).

The information was revealed by Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar who gave details of the financial assistance provided to sports federations while answering a question in Rajya Sabha today. The government supplements the efforts of the national sports federations by providing assistance for training and participation or coaching of teams abroad, and procurement of equipments.

Hockey is not alone as some important sports federations have heavily lost on government funding in the last three years. The weightlifting federation, which faced two international bans in two years for doping offences, has been the worst hit. From Rs. 79.88 lakh in 2004-05, and Rs. 51.41 in 2005-06, the grant has come down to a meagre Rs. 3.28 lakh in the last financial year (2006-07).

Athletics, the mother of all sports, was also not spared. In fact, the Athletics Federation of India took the biggest hit with the grants coming down from Rs. 227.95 lakh in 2005-06 to Rs. 86.83 lakh last season, a fall of Rs. 141.12 lakh. The case with All India Football Federation, which has also been dropped from the priority category, is not different. The AIFF got Rs. 119.36 lakh in 2004-05 but could manage only 70.37 the next season. It further went down to 30.55 lakh in the last year. All India Tennis Association got 136.87 lakh in 2004-05 while the grant came down to 90.07 lakh in 2006-07.

The assistance to shooting which got India bulk of the medals in Commonwealth Games and Asian Games was increased from Rs. 218.37 lakh 2004-05 to Rs. 433 lakh next year but fell to Rs. 373.19 lakh in 2006-07. But the picture is rosy for some other federations like Table Tennis Federation of India and Archery Association of India. On the back of some commendable international performance, TTFI's grants have been rising steadily. Form 116.78 lakh in 2004-05, the grants have gone up to 178.75 lakh in 2006-07. Archery's purse was got a hike to 96.48 lakh last year, from 58.95 lakh in 2004-05.

(From PTI)

Mayawati is Back in Action...

Dalit + Brahmin = Crown for Maya

It was neither shock nor surprise for anybody. Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will emerge, as single largest party was general perception. It happened also like that. But Mayawati got more than expectation. BSP will get maximum up to 165; this was assumption of Most of the exit polls and media persons. But Mayawati gone beyond that and crossed the magic figure of 202.

This is the first time when any single party has crossed the mark of 190 seats. In 1993 when Kalyansingh was in full swing after debacle of Babri Masjid, Bhartiya Janata Party got around 193 seats. After that no party has crossed that mark. BJP’s graph was declining and Samajwadi Party and BSP’s highest figure was not more than 160. But this is the first time BSP not only crossed that 190 figure but set new record by winning more than 202 seats, which is required for majority.

Till last assembly election Mayawati’s BSP was limited to Dalits and backward class only. But after that she knew that if she adhered to only Dalit politics she wont won the elections on her own. So she started to appease the upper caste voters, mainly Brahmins. In 2004 Lok Sabha election and now in Vidhan Sabha election also she gave many upper caste candidates including Brahmins. In this assembly election she gave about 155 upper caste candidates, in which number of Brahmins candidates was around 87. This drastic change in BSP’s policy was shocking but accepted by people of Uttar Pradesh.

Once upon a time BSP’s famous Slogan was

``Tilak, Taraju aur Talwar
Inko Maro Jute Char….’’

But now the situation is changed and Maya has now hugged the Brahmins and Baniyas. In UP percentage of Brahmins are around 12 to 13. Upper caste vote percentage touches to 20. This is the figure you cannot ignore in politics if you want to become Chief Minister. Maya knew that whatever decision she takes there will be no impact on her Dalit vote bank. So she gave tickets to Brahmins and Baniyas where this caste has majority votes. With this move of Maya BJP and Congress got major jolt as these parties are supposed to be parties of upper caste. Maintaining own vote bank Maya created vote bank of another caste. Neither BJP nor SP was able to do this. That’s the reason why Maya got majority and other two parties unable to cross hundred.

Another thing is that people were tired to Mulayam Singh’s government. This govt. gave some scholarships and aids to students, women and people of backward class but cadre of Samajwadi Party was indulged in extortion, crime and many illegal things. Voters were not happy with this. They wanted change.

On the other hand BJP has no powerful leader, which would be alternative to Mayawati. Kalyan Singh was popular after Babri debacle. He was not only popular in BJP cadre but he was also popular in general public. But when he became Chief Minister again in 1996 his popularity was on declining track. He was expelled from BJP. He was unhappy with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. So alleged Vajpayee and other senior leaders including Lalkrishna Advani. He also took U turn in Babri Masjid Debacle. That’s why Kalyansingh was not popular in BJP cadre and general public also.

Other leaders like Kalraj Mishra, Lalji Tondon and Kesarinath Tripathi were limited to one caste only. That is Brahmins. Vinay Katiyar was also side tracked after Kalyan Singh’s return to BJP.
Considering all this aspects only alternative before UP people was Mayawati and her BSP. That’s why BSP not only become no. 1 Party in Uttar Pradesh but she got simple majority. This was the indication that people of UP are tired with `JOD-TOD KI RAJNITI` and they want stable government. So they give opportunity to Mayawati to run govt for five years without any hurdle.

Uddhav: Slow But Steady Progress

Though he has so many critics and everyone is saying he is not capable to lead Shivsena, but he has proved that Uddhav Thackrey is the only person who can lead Sena, as Balasahaeb is not in condition to lead.

After exit of Narayan Rane and Raj Thackery, Shivsena got major jolt. Shivsena leaders Chagan Bhujbal and Ganesh Naik were also quit Sena few years back. But that time not Sena but those leaders found in trouble. But here condition was exactly opposite and Sena was on back foot as Raj and Rane are mass based leaders. So many Sena leaders and MLAs also quit Sena with their workers. Those workers were not only from Konkan and Mumbai but also from all over Maharashtra.

After this drama Rane supporter MLAs quit Sena and joined Congress. Therefore voters and leaders faced by election. In Malvan, Sangmeshwar, Rajapur and Vengurla Rane supporters won. Malvan and Vengurla was cakewalk for Rane but Sangmeshwar and Rajapur was quite tough for Congress. After that Sena maintain their Shrivardhan seat with support of Peasents and Workers Party. This was like earthquake for Rane’s camp.

Chimur and Daryapur was close battle as Rane supporters won with close margin. Here dispute between Sena and Bhartiya Janata Party was reason for their defeat. But after this Sena camp was in Cheers mood.

Mumbai Municipal Corporation election was litmus test for Sena, Rane and Raj also. Everyone was thinking that Sena would get major jolt as Rane and Raj quitted Sena. But giving shock to everyone Sena got majority in MMC. Thought number of Sena corporaters decreased and BJP corporaters increased saffron alliance got majority with support of independent candidates. This was 1st great victory for Uddhav and for Sena also. After that everyone gets idea of Uddhav’s leadership techniques and the way he is leading Sena.

Like last municipal election also he didn’t give tickets to around 55 sitting corporaters. In last election also about 35 corporaters wont get another opportunity. Because of this though many people were upset with performance of their corporater voted for Sena as they got new face from party. Another reason was Marathi factor was also helpful for Sena’s victory.

As this was not enough for Rane, Ramtek Loksabha election results brought Rane to the earth. Ranjit Deshmukh contested the election against favourism to Rane in congress party. He got around 40 thousand votes and Sena candidate victory was confirmed. Sena move their all MLAs, corporaters and workers to Ramtek and made this election of prestige issue. Ramtek win confirms that, here after it won’t be that much easy for Rane.

Uddhav’s style of working is different from Raj or Rane. He is not aggressive as Balasaheb. He is not good orator as Raj. He has not bunch of workers as Rane has. But he is changing work style of Sena and which is appropriate for new era. Though many workers of Sena not happy with his working style, many people are with him. He is taking issues like Sugercane or Cotton prices, Electricity shortage in rural parts of Maharashtra and other people related problems. That’s why roots of Sena are going more and more deep.