The negativity that engulfed the Indian team in the build-up to the Hangzhou Asian Games has put the glare on the All India Football Federation, but its president Kalyan Chaubey refuses to buy that idea.
“I do not really think so. It’s how you see it. The glass is half-full or half-empty? I think it’s a good sign that football is getting a lot of traction. There has been a concerted effort to see Indian football in poor light, but that has not succeeded. India are playing in the Asian Games after nine long years. That is an achievement,” Chaubey, who completed one year as the top boss of the AIFF earlier this month, told The Telegraph.
An inexperienced Indian team, barring captain Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan, will play against China in their first match of Group A on Tuesday without a single training session. The relatively unknown players made the cut after the clubs refused to release players who were on the initial list made by national coach Igor Stimac. The Football Sports Development Limited, which runs the ISL with AIFF, also went ahead and decided to start the 10th edition of the league on Thursday.
“I don’t know why everyone is saying the team is inexperienced. From my playing experience, I can vouch for the fact that in our country there are around 80-90 players who, quality-wise, are more or less on the same plane. Whether they are playing in the ISL, I-League or the local league. The difference lies in the level of fitness and awareness about how to keep them healthy,” he said.
“During our time, say an IM Vijayan or a Bhaichung Bhutia or a Basudeb Mondal were the decisive factors. The rest of us were supporting players. It has not changed a bit. Now it’s Sunil Chhetri or Sandesh Jhingan who are exceptional and with loads of experience. Both are in the squad,” Chaubey said to buttress his point. Jhingan was allowed by his club after the ISL organisers agreed to postpone FC Goa’s match against Hyderabad FC, scheduled for Friday, to a later date.
Initially, the Indian football team was not given the green light by the sports ministry but Chaubey, who is also the Indian Olympic Association joint secretary and its acting CEO, managed to convince the ministry for the permission.
“It took me a lot of convincing. But the ministry and the IOA had a point. It’s the taxpayer’s money and you cannot spend whimsically. For a team event like football where the combined strength of players and support staff could be 26-27, and when there is not that great a chance to win a medal, the government will surely think twice before okaying the expense.”
Chaubey believes football has grabbed eyeballs since the present dispensation took charge. “We have done some good work like organising the Santosh Trophy in Saudi Arabia. There is more transparency now. I-League and Santosh Trophy will get a facelift. Our target is to form a pool of 750 players.
“That’s where tournaments like I-League and Santosh Trophy will be key. A defender like, for example, Jhingan can only raise his game when a youngster snaps at his heels.”
