India, April 8 -- We have always wondered how politician Praful Patel has managed to transform himself into something of a jack of all trades. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP from Maharashtra grew up as a quintessential SoBo boy. He was educated at its twin citadels of learning - Campion School and Sydenham College - and like many alumni from there was groomed to take over his family business with interests in tobacco in the early 1990s, following in his late father's footsteps to enter active politics. A suave speaker and a man said to be liked by all sides of the political spectrum (the words Teflon-coated have been used by more than one person to describe him), it is said that it was Maharashtra strongman Sharad Pawar who first noticed his talent for making friends and influencing people, and in many ways groomed him as the urbane face of the party and its link to the industry, a role masterfully fulfilled by Patel. But while many politicians in India find a natural affinity to get into cricket administration, Patel decided to be different and set his sights on promoting the sport of football, and soon became the longstanding AIFF president. And, over the weekend, news has come in that Patel has become the first and only Indian to be elected to the FIFA Council, a prestigious post that governs football world over, given a dual responsibility, "The responsibility as FIFA Council member is huge. I would not only be representing my own country, but the entire continent. Thank you all for your confidence for rapid progress of football in Asia," he tweeted, in the parlance of 'I'm humbled and blessed as I speak'. But, will India finally qualify for a FIFA World Cup? Or will there ever be a FIFA World Cup in India? Patel's got his work cut out for him....