It was a script-perfect year for Indian football as the sport not only kept all hooked but also managed to bask in the glory and limelight.

By Garima Verma

If for Indian football, just like others, the mark of recognition is fighting for the headline space and coming out a tad victorious, this year proved to be a little more generous. Be it the triumphs or the controversies, the poorer cousin of cricket in the country, got its due under the light.

Be it defending the Nehru Cup title in style or Bhaichung Bhutia's lost love with Mohun Bagan, the Indian football finally managed to snatch its share of space in public memory.

Anyone, who was there at Ambedkar Stadium on the night India took on Syria in the Nehru Cup showdown, would vouch that football indeed gave cricket a run for its money. With the stadium already bursting at seams with the spectators, a horde of people, including many scribes, were left stranded at the gates, trying in futility to convince the police personnel to let them in. Such was the effect of the atmosphere that even a certain Salman Khan could not help but offer his services to further help the game's cause. And, that very night football also got a ‘star ambassador' of its own, courtesy Salman.

As Bob Houghton's boys kept hold of the Nehru Cup, the deafening roars that greeted the victorious team were almost at par with the ones that reach the sky when a team wins the most coveted trophy in the world of football - FIFA World Cup.

If the Nehru Cup triumph successfully pushed others from the main spot, a controversy also kept the sports followers hooked to the news.

Who would have imagined that Bhaichung Bhutia and Mohun Bagan fiasco will get such constant attention and will find its space among all the high-flying sporting events? Not only that, but the scribes' constant track of the issue, starting from the day the Indian skipper missed his club's friendly match due to his involvement in a reality show, also bordered on paparazzi's seemingly never-ending celebrity chase. While Bhutia has always been the luckiest Indian footballer ever when it came to media attention, this melee reaffirmed his high status in the Indian sports.

The on-field script, on the other hand, was written in Churchill Brothers' colours, with Odafe Onyeka Okolie being the lead star. After having claimed their maiden I-League title last season, the Goan outfit romped every other opposition in the country to resound their invincibility. Despite the frequent sackings and appointments of coaches, the white brigade kept annexing every frontier.

They not only dethroned Dempo SC as the biggest title challengers, but also showed that the seat of real action has completely shifted from Kolkata. Be it the IFA Shield or the Durand Cup, every trophy headed to the same cabinet in Goa. And, the prime driving force behind that show was the Nigerian striker. Though, a game is played by 11 players, but many a time it is won by one. And, for Churchill, those moments were many. Whenever, Odafe stopped to do the talking on the field, the side resembled any other mediocre bunch in the fray. And, whenever he was in his flow, no obstacle could hinder him. His subtlety and effortless display with the ball earned many plaudits for Churchill.

If the men in blue gave the supporters many reasons to cheer for this season, the boy brigade was also not far behind. The Indian under-23 side beat Maldives 3-1 in the tie-breaker in the final to claim their fifth SAFF Championships crown in Dhaka recently.

In between, India also got its first artificial turf for a football ground in Kolkata. Though it's still debatable whether the synthetic surface is worth all its money, but it facilitates matches in an unpredictable Kolkatan weather and that is a reason enough in its favour.

Also, another year went by with All India Football Federation (AIFF) trying to get its house in order, albeit with little results to boast of. The appointment of a new General Secretary proved to be such a long and winding process that all the hype that surrounded it died its own slow death.

With an eventful 2009 to its credit, the Indian football is now looking forward to a more rewarding 2010. And, if the Indian outfits can make their presence felt at the bigger stage next year, like AFC Challenge Cup, AFC Cup and others, one can say that the Indian football is finally going on right track.