‘We are ready to fight and beat Japan’

Indian football coach Syed Nayeemuddin’s comment may seem a little far-fetched as India takes on the might of the Asian giants ranked 15th in the world, but at least the spirit is back in the team, writes Manish Kumar.

 

It is not just the geographical distance between India and Japan that puts them poles apart but also the respective paths they have taken in football.

 

While Japan is ranked No.15 in the world FIFA rankings and the success of their J-League is held as a role model for all the aspiring nations, Indian football has been straggling at the bottom for decades now, and even the introduction of the NFL in 1996 hasn’t helped much.

 

Still, Indian football has started attracting positive vibes in the last three-four months and it is not just due to the sudden improvement of India’s FIFA rankings — they are 118th at present, up by nine places since December 2005 — but most of all due to the infectious hope that their current chief coach Syed Nayeemuddin carries for the entire team. It augurs well for India’s tough away match against the Asian giant in the Asia Cup qualifiers at Yokohama on February 22. The SAFF champions have tough companions in Group A of the Asia Cup qualifiers - Saudi Arabia and Yemen are the other teams other than Japan.

 

The Indian preparation for the Japan encounter started in New Delhi on Wednesday and captain Bhaichung Bhutia was expected to join the camp at the time of writing.

 

Coach Nayeemuddin said that there were no weak links worth discussing in his team. “The mentality of all the players has changed — they realise it is the prestige of the country and Indian football on the line.”

 

Nayeem said that this was the biggest change he wanted when he took over the team in November. “This is the biggest change which I have noticed amongst the players in the last few months. In the short time that is available, we have to adjust to problems. You can’t say this was not there, there was not much time to practise or strategise. We need to be ready.”

 

Nayeem speaks in a trance: “Fight, fight and fight. Win, win and win.” Has the rapprochement between him and Bhutia made the difference to this Indian team?

 

“No differences, I still say,” said the chief coach and he adds, “I have praised Bhutia and compared him to Italy’s Roberto Baggio. With due respect, Indian coaches have looked after Bhutia better than the foreign coaches when Bhutia preferred to play in Malaysia.”

 

Then pausing for words he said, “He is working very sincerely. Anytime by tomorrow he will be joining the squad — he led and inspired the team in SAFF Cup.”

 

There are no fitness problems amongst the probables. “Mentally all the boys are tough today. They have come back after playing the National League — some of them are tired but we have to push them and get the best against Japan. A lot of changes have taken place in the last few months,” claims Nayeemuddin.

 

He listed a number of good steps that has boosted the players’ confidence — “so much money and reward, one lakh for a good show”.

 

There is also a rumour that the AIFF is in the process of finalising a training stint in Brazil for the 2006 Asian Games in December.

 

Nayeemuddin doesn’t think the tough pool in the Asia Cup qualifiers will be much of a problem for the Indian team. “No problem with the pool. First we will think of Japan and after that the others.” The team’s departure to Japan will be finalised in a couple of days.

 

“We are taking a little more time — in a day or two we will decide when we want to reach Japan for the match.”

 

Finally, what does he feel about India’s chances against Japan? Can they make a mark in the match? “We are trying to do that.” And then he makes a remark which will certainly shock his Japanese counterpart:

 

“Our boys are ready to fight and beat Japan.” At the moment, it’s time to leave Nayeemuddin to return to the Indian squad’s practice.