TATA FOOTBALL ACADEMY: quest for excellence for 25 years

Novy Kapadia


The concept of Sports academies in India started in the mid-1980s, with the Britannia-Amritharj tennis academy in Chennai in 1985 and the Tata Football Academy (TFA) in Jamshedpur in 1987. Many academies in other sports started after that including the high profile MRF Pace bowling academy in Chennai and the Air India hockey academy in early 1990s. In football, other academies started like Williamson Magor in Assam in 1993, Chandigarh Football Academy and Sesa football Academy
at the start of the new century. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has started an academy in Navi Mumbai earlier this year and a youth development programme since 2007. The Williamson Magor football academy has closed down as has the Britannia-Amrithraj tennis academy. The Air India hockey academy in 2009 was shifted from Delhi and lost its importance. Creditably, TFA has maintained its quest for excellence for 25 years.

Recently TFA held its ninth convocation for its tenth batch of 18 graduating cadets, from eight different states, recently. At this function, veterans like Chuni Goswami, Director TFA, 1986—89, P.K. Banerjee, technical director 1991—1997, Shyam Thapa and coach Ranjan Chowdhury were also present. The 1962 Asian games gold medalist, Arun Ghosh, Director TFA 1997—2002 and Mohammed Habib, coach 1986 to 1999 were also invited but could not make it for personal reasons.

TFA’s contribution to Indian football has been immense, especially during the nineties and initial years of the new millennium. During this period as the Indian economy changed, prices and life expectations increased considerably, so the feeder clubs, often colony based units looked after by dedicated  individuals dwindled or shut shop. For decades clubs like Aryans, Kalighat, Kidderpore, Howrah Union in Kolkata, Orkay Mills in Mumbai, City College Old Boys and Arsenal FC, Hyderabad, Premier Tyres in Kerala, Leaders Club, Jalandhar and many others all over the country, nurtured talent and produced good players, who were then snapped up by the big clubs of India. As these clubs and institutions declined for economic reasons, TFA filled the vacuum. If not for TFA, India’s FIFA ranking would have
slithered down even more.

In the last two decades, 120 TFA cadets have represented India in international competitions. Overall, 164 TFA cadets have represented the country in age group national teams. The scouting of talented players is broad based, includes all social categories and India’s diversity is amply reflected in the selected TFA cadets. The recently graduated batch had an ace defender Sanjay Balmuchu, from a village in the iron-ore rich region of Jharkhand. Nicknamed the ‘iron man’, Balmuchu was discovered from the Feeder centre of Noamundi near Tata Steel’s iron mine. Balmuchu has now got a lucrative contract from Churchill Brothers. On the rolls at present is a talented 15 year old cadet Niranjan Sardar from the remote Kalarangatia village in Jajpur district of Odisha. He was spotted in a camp organized by TFA in Kalinganagar.In contrast, the suave striker Karan Sawhney is the son of a wealthy Mumbai based businessman. Known for being able to “bend the ball” like Beckham, lanky Karan has secured a Rs. 22 lakhs two year contract with Salgaocar (Goa). TFA is egalitarian in its treatment of players. All
share the same facilities and stay in rooms without air-conditioning.

At the five-acre academy, the country’s best talent is put through an intensive four-year training programme, given the best equipment and occasional foreign exposure. Creditably the TFA is  expanding and have launched a non-residential Grassroots Development programme for local boys less than 10 years of age. Every two years, TFA will induct 75-80 boys under 10 years of age and from 2016 onwards these boys, proficient in football basics, will be available for selection in the Academy’s four year programme. Satellite centres have also been created at all Tata steel locations where sports infrastructure is available.

In the past 25 years, achievements have been stupendous. But TFA must develop a road map for the future and not let complacency creep in. There are a few worrying signs. In recent years, TFA has lost in the initial rounds of the Durand tournament .Has the quality of junior players joining TFA declined or is better coaching needed? Winger Gautam Ghosh from the first batch, rated the most talented in the country, played for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan but his career never really took off. Central defenders Anit Ghosh and Shanker Lal Chakraborty and striker Dipendu Biswas (once compared to Jurgen  Klinsmann for his roving game) from the second batch, were also highly rated but they never really lived up to potential. Another silky striker Sheikh Sanjeeb faded away soon after leaving TFA. So many others cases can be cited, strikers Vimal Pariyar, P.C. Lalawmpuia (reportedly liquor problems) of the 7th batch, Henry Gangte and Branco Cardoza of the 8th batch, defenders Satish Bharti and Amandeep Singh and striker Alex Ambrose (4th batch) and S. Malsawmtlunga and Subash Chakraborty (5th batch). All were promising players but could not make the transition from potential to fulfillment of talent.

TFA should take note of this drop-out rate and make new plans for the future. The Tatas football club would be a finishing school for the Academy graduates and then they could seek transfers to high profile clubs. Maybe for the next decade, TFA could try out this venture, start a club to give senior
tournament exposure and maturity to the Academy graduates.