Football is the new cricket: India coach Constantine
Football is as popular in India in my opinion — it’s just not written about as much Stephen Constantine, India coach
abu dhabi — A nomadic English coach whose colourful career has taken him from Millwall to Malawi has got cricket-mad India dreaming of Asian Cup football glory.
India stunned Thailand 4-1 in their opening match last weekend to record their first victory at the tournament in over 50 years and despite losing 2-0 to hosts UAE, Stephen Constantine insists football has knocked cricket of its perch — at least for a little bit.
“After qualifying and two outstanding performances we have done that and more,” the 56-year-old Londoner told AFP in an interview.
“Indians do love their cricket but you really are seeing a metamorphosis in football and that is really something to be proud of.
“To get to the knockout stages would be massive,” added Constantine, who has repeatedly been overlooked for jobs in his home country.
“But whatever happens, we’ve already overachieved.”
Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri overtook Lionel Messi in international goals during the win over Thailand, earning comparisons with India’s cricket skipper Virat Kohli for his heroics, and the Blue Tigers still have their eye on a place in the last 16.
“Football is as popular in India in my opinion — it’s just not written about as much,” said Constantine, who coached Malawi, Sudan and Rwanda before returning for a second spell as India boss four years ago.
“Of course when the cricket team is doing well and the football isn’t, there is only going to be one winner.
“But that has all changed,” he added, pointing to the progress his rough diamonds have made and the positive impact of the domestic Indian Super League since its launch in 2013.
“The fact that we are capable of playing the bigger teams and to compete was not the case when I arrived. We are a solid unit, we work very hard on all aspects of the game and on our day can hurt most teams.”
Despite a population of 1.3 billion, India has barely registered on the football map — until now.
Beaten finalists on their Asian Cup debut in 1964 when it was a four-team competition won by Israel, they last qualified in 2011 when they were thrashed by Australia, Bahrain and South Korea, conceding 13 goals in the process.
But the step up in quality shown by the world’s 97th-ranked national side this time around has been little short of astonishing.
“In a nutshell it’s down to the players, they have given me everything,” said Constantine, whose young team face Bahrain on Monday in their final Group A game.
“I’m so proud of the work rate, determination and the attitude of the players.”
Part of the secret of India’s drastic improvement under Constantine lies in the Englishman’s emphasis on sports science, nutrition and monitoring the “wellness” of his players.
“That holistic approach has proved to be successful over the last several years both here in India and in other countries I have coached in,” said Constantine, who as Sudan coach once had rifles pulled on him while driving from Khartoum to scout a player.
Constantine is not easily intimidated, sparking dismay in India by stripping Chhetri of the captaincy before the Asian Cup.
But he has bowled a googly at his critics as harmony has returned, and he promises the best is yet to come.
“When I think back to 2015 and where we were, we have indeed come a long way,” he said.
“The fact that this is the youngest team in the history of Indian football, I’m certain the future is bright.” — al ain — Qatar’s Almoez Ali scored four goals in a 6-0 Asian Cup rout of North Korea in a Group E match of the AFC Asian Cup at the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium on Sunday.
Ali hit two in the first half and two more in the second to go top of the goalscorers’ charts with five altogether, as Qatar reached the round of 16.
North Korea were guilty of ballwatching twice early on as Qatar went 2-0 up within 11 minutes thanks to Ali’s sharp finishing.
Ali had time to control Akram Afif’s cross from the left and bury his shot on nine minutes, and he then clipped in Hasan Al Haydos’s ball from the right two minutes later.
North Korean had a couple of moments at the other end.
Ri Un Chol blazed a powerful shot over from the edge of the box, and Kim Song Gi saw his header from a corner unfortunately blocked by teammate Kim Kyong Hun.
But just before half-time, Afif hoisted a hopeful ball to the far post and Boualem Khouki climbed above his marker to head it in.
Ali completed the hat trick 10 minutes after half-time, when he coolly dinked the ball over goalkeeper Kim Myong Guk after Afif ’s slide-rule pass into the box.
Afif fed Ali again to make it 5-0 before Abdelkarim Hassan, the 2018 Asian player of the year, made it six with a strong run and finish.
North Korea, who have now shipped 10 unanswered goals after their 4-0 loss to Saudi Arabia, finished with 10 men after Swiss-based captain Jong Il Gwan received a second yellow card in injury time. —