‘My goal was to take India team forward’
NATIONAL FOOTBALL COACH DEFENDS HIS TENURE AS HE SEEKS CONTRACT RENEWAL
THE Indian football head coach Igor Stimac last Saturday (18) made a veiled attack on powerful figures associated with the game in the country, saying “some stakeholders” had focused on their projects instead of committing to help the national side raise its profile.
Last Wednesday (15), a day after India had qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup by topping Group D in Kolkata, he criticised the state of affairs in the game’s ruling All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The AIFF is currently run by the Supreme Courtappointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) after officials led by Praful Patel were shown the door for violating the National Sports Code.
“When I was appointed as coach (in May 2019), I was quite sure that India will have a future as a football nation, but I knew it will be a difficult path,” Stimac said at a virtual media interaction.
“I was expecting everyone to commit to help the national team rise. Some of the parties instead concentrated on their projects. That was surprising,” the Croatian, whose current contract ends in September, said without taking any names.
Stimac has repeatedly put a premium in the availability of players for national duty, and he has expressed his displeasure several times earlier on the non-release of players by their clubs.
He credited the impressive showing of the team in the Asian Cup qualifiers to availability of the players for a long camp ahead of the tournament.
“Only the national team’s performance can take Indian football higher, not the ISL [Indian Super League],” Stimac said.
He added that many factors needed to improve Indian football took a longer time to see the light of day. “The football season needs to be longer, more games need to be played, the calendar should be sorted out. At least there should be 10 months of football, 50 games for each player,” he said.
“But many things should have happened earlier. I had expected more from the government. Not allowing PIO (players of Indian origin) was a handicap, all the countries allowed it.
“I thought I would be given all the tools (to take the national team forward) but it was not to be.”
He said if the AIFF elections were not held soon, there could be problems for the national team in terms of planning for the year ahead which needs to be done sooner than later.
“Praful Patel was the AIFF president when I was employed. I want to thank him for trusting me. He has his own reasons why elections were not held,” Stimac explained. “If these elections are not held soon, there can be problems in organising in what is needed for the national team. We are, at the moment, not preparing for upcoming matches.”
Asked about the possibility of renewing his contract, he said, “According to the agreement, if we fulfil our goals, which we did (by qualifying for the Asian Cup).
“One council member said since my contract is till September, there is time left. But he should know how football calendar works.
“I am committed to AIFF. I love India and want to take these youngsters to Asian Cup (in 2023) and show to the world that India can do better,” he said.
“Even half of my job is not yet done, so I don’t want to leave now.
“If the other side [AIFF] is going to be reasonable, I think it (renewal of contract) might happen soon, say in June or July so that things can start early for the national team.”