IWL: A league not on par

The Indian Women’s League 2022-23, the premier women’s football competition in the country concluded yesterday with Gokulam FC winning the title three years in a row.

Not long ago, in fact hardly one month ago, the IWL began on April 26 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The woes surrounding the Indian Women's League got more attention than the football itself, unfortunately. The media tore the All India Football Federation apart when they learnt about the disappointing way in which the tournament had been hurriedly conducted towards the end of the 2022-23 football season calendar with little or no importance given to player welfare, amenities, accommodation, food, training facilities, and more.

The glaring gap with which men’s tournaments are conducted was evident for all to see and while most players and clubs did not muster the courage to put into words the ordeal they faced, it does not mean it did not happen or that it didn’t affect the overall performance of many.

We’ve got two words for it: Gender Discrimination

We can only hope that the criticism of the media, players and coaches and the feedback shared by the clubs will not fall on deaf ears at the AIFF.

To even the playing field – no more gender discrimination – here are a few no brainers that we propose to the AIFF for the next edition, which happens to be already slated in their calendar in just a few months.

1. Stick to the calendar. Stop postponing women’s tournaments to the end of the football season. It is unrealistic and inhumane to expect players to battle summer temperatures (42-45° C is usually how high the mercury rises in most parts of the country) and perform their best. Give women’s tournaments the same importance as men’s when it comes to scheduling dates, venues, times.

2. Consider all factors when creating the fixtures. Choose reasonable timings to afford players enough sleep and recovery. Ensure enough recovery days between matches. Early morning games can work just fine, if the players do not have to travel long distances between their accommodation and the trainings grounds and stadiums.

3. Ensure the provision of nourishing and hygienic food fit for India’s top women athletes. Keep in mind basics like daily protein and carbohydrate intake. Hire a nutritionist to work with the caterer to ensure the food is not oily, recycled or monotonous. Allocate a budget to provide basic gym and pool facilities for clubs to use on a pre-defined schedule. Choose clean and safe living quarters that are close to basic amenities, medical facilities, stadiums and civilization, in general. Basic amenities like bottled drinking water, washing machines, refrigerators, etc are not luxuries.

4. Gain broadcasting rights before the start of the tournament. Quality over quantity is not a valid excuse for the country’s premier women’s league to not be telecast/ webcast for all of India to see. How will other young girls or players learn about the women who represent their country? Who will aspire to play like if they do not see them play or even know who they are?

5. Hire an agency to market, promote and build up to the biggest event in Indian women’s football. It is heart breaking to see empty stadiums even on the Finals. Showcase every player and club. Tell their stories. Invite local schools and colleges to attend matches and to meet and greet players.

Kudos to a few senior Indian players such as Aditi Chauhan who spoke out and said #NoFoulPlay and to those who raised their voices anonymously and brought to the media’s attention the sad state of affairs at IWL.

Mr. Kalyan Chaubey, President, AIFF has assured on social media that things will change for the better from now on.

We’ll hold you to the promise, Sir.

We stand for No Foul Play against women athletes.

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