INDIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Legendary Dutch soccer player Ruud Gullit, currently on a visit to India, says Spain's dominance brings memories of the golden era of Latin American football led by Brazil in the 1960s and 70s

Record ID: 1386312

  • Title: INDIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Legendary Dutch soccer player Ruud Gullit, currently on a visit to India, says Spain's dominance brings memories of the golden era of Latin American football led by Brazil in the 1960s and 70s
  • Date: 29th July 2012
  • Summary: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (JULY 29, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** LARGE POSTER FEATURING DUTCH FOOTBALER, RUUD GULLIT POSTER OF GULLIT AND ANOTHER SOCCER PLAYER JOURNALISTS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE TWO JOURNALISTS STANDING ORGANISER PRESENTING A SOUVENIR OF RADHA KRISHNA IDOL TO GULLIT PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH FOOTBALLER, RUUD GULLIT, SAYING: "I have to say they (Spaniards) are playing very good football, and we all like it. When the Brazilian team in the 60s and 70s played so well, everybody thought that there is never going to be another team that plays better football. Luckily for us, Spain deservedly won all these trophies playing some excellent football. We love to watch that. And the good about their football is that it is attacking football." GULLIT SEATED ON THE STAGE WITH OTHER GUESTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH FOOTBALLER, RUUD GULLIT, SAYING: "Racism is not a football problem. It is a social problem. Especially now we know that the crisis in Europe is economic. People are more aware of it because people need a scapegoat, and it is always the minority that is going to be pointed out for their problems. So I know UEFA is doing everything to kick racism out of football." GULLIT SEATED ON THE STAGE WITH OTHER GUESTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH FOOTBALLER, RUUD GULLIT, SAYING: "It is difficult in a country like this as big (India) to have amateur teams or the clubs, because the infrastructure is not there. So you first have to start to build the pitches for the kids. It could well be artificial pitches because of the weather and the circumstances that are here. You have that, and the youth can play on it. In different areas in the city, we also have playgrounds. So there is always, in the neighbourhood that has a playground within three kilometres so that the kids can go and play. There is always a football pitch, a basketball pitch, and there is always there for the small ones to do. So it is a totally different thing." PEOPLE GATHERED AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 13th August 2012 21:52
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA2R6ZCI5ARS3VLFYWU24DUUOZU
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Famed Dutch soccer player Ruud Gullit said in a visit to India on Sunday (April 29) that Spanish style of football reminds him of the golden era of Latin American soccer played by Brazil in 1960s and 70s.
    The former Dutch international arrived in Kolkata on Saturday (July 28) on a two-day visit to lend his support of the final match of a local community tournament.
    He also attended a ceremony to celebrate the local team's Mohan Bagan victory over East York Regiment in the final match of the IFA (Indian Football Association) Shield tournament in 1911, which was a landmark in India's soccer history.
    In a news conference, Gullit praised the current Spanish national team who became the first to hold a World Cup and two Euro titles in succession.

    "I have to say they (Spaniards) are playing very good football, and we all like it. When the Brazilian team in the 60s and 70s played so well, everybody thought that there is never going to be another team that plays better football. the 49 year-old said.

    "Luckily for us, Spain deservedly won all these trophies playing some excellent football. We love to watch that. And the good about their football is that it is attacking football."
    Gullit was FIFA World Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989 and captained the Netherlands to the European Championship title in 1988 when they beat the Soviet Union in the final.
    He said that racism was a social problem and not related to the game and added the European soccer governing body UEFA was tackling the problem.

    "Racism is not a football problem. It is a social problem. Especially now we know that the crisis in Europe is economic," he said.

    "People are more aware of it because people need a scapegoat, and it is always the minority that is going to be pointed out for their problems. So I know UEFA is doing everything to kick racism out of football."
    Gullit coached English Premier League sides such as Chelsea and Newcastle United along with Dutch giants Feyenoord but has been out of management since leaving Los Angeles Galaxy in 2008 for personal reasons.
    The Dutch legend said that India must improve its infrastructure so improve skills among the youth.

    "It is difficult in a country like this as big (India) to have amateur teams or the clubs, because the infrastructure is not there. So you first have to start to build the pitches for the kids. It could well be artificial pitches because of the weather and the circumstances that are here," he said.

    "You have that, and the youth can play on it. In different areas in the city, we also have playgrounds. So there is always, in the neighbourhood that has a playground within three kilometres so that the kids can go and play. There is always a football pitch, a basketball pitch, and there is always there for the small ones to do. So it is a totally different thing," Gullit added.
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