From the publisher:
Few football-crazy fans today may be aware that India was once called the ‘Brazil of Asia’. Or that the rivalry between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan is ranked among the top fifty club rivalries in the world. Brilliant players, world-class coaches and passionate fans—including political leaders—once combined to make India a football-worshipping nation. Thriving in several places apart from Calcutta, football was a source of the finest sports entertainment for most of the twentieth century. The game was also inextricably linked to community identity, shrewdly used towards political ends and contributed richly to our cultural heritage.
In Barefoot to Boots, foremost commentator Novy Kapadia reveals Indian football’s glorious legacy through riveting descriptions and analysis of on-field action, stories of memorable matches, lively anecdotes, and exclusive conversations with legendary players and officials. Charting the eventful journey of the sport up to the present, the book will enthral old and new fans alike. It will offer invaluable insight into the future of the game as the Indian Super League dramatically changes the face of domestic football and India hosts the U-17 World Cup for the first time.
The author:
Novy Kapadia, reputed sports journalist and columnist, is recognized as India’s leading football expert and commentator. Since 1980, he has covered several tournaments, including FIFA World Cups, Hockey World Cups, Hockey Champions Trophy games, European Football Championships, Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and all major national football tournaments. He also taught at SGTB Khalsa College (Department of English), University of Delhi. His articles have appeared in the Telegraph, Sportsworld magazine, India Abroad News Service (IANS), India's leading sports website sportskeeda.com, The Asian Age, India Today, Business Standard, Economic Times, Hindustan Times and Deccan Chronicle, among others. He has also worked as a commentator and analyst for BBC, ESPN, ZEE Sports, Star Sports, Ten Sports, Doordarshan, All-India Radio, NDTV and CNN-IBN.
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