Sub-standard foreign players won’t improve Indian football, says former Mohammedan Sporting player
Sub-standard foreign players won’t improve Indian football, says former Mohammedan Sporting player
MUMBAI: Jamshed Nassiri doesn’t believe in mincing words. The tall Iranian who has been associated with Indian football for the last 28 years, as a player and coach, rejected Indian football coach Bob Houghton’s claim about India not having naturally well-built players.
“As far as my experience goes, India has plenty of talent and there is no dearth of players who are physically as well as mentally strong,” Nassiri said. “The problem is with the lack of infrastructure and good administration,” he added.
Nassiri is in the city as an observer for the Mumbai leg of ‘Tata Tea Arsenal Soccer Stars’ talent search programme.
When asked as to what was ailing Indian football, Nassiri said that players are not being groomed at a younger age. “Indian football is not going to improve by bringing in sub-standard foreign players,” he remarked. “India has plenty of talent. It is the responsibility of administration to nurture this talent,” he added.
He further said that India missed on a golden opportunity to market football in the country. “The victory in Nehru Cup could have served as a platform to popularize the sport,” he added. He said that lack of good management was evident in this instance as well.
Nassiri will be scouting for young talent in Mumbai schools on April 19 and April 20 at the Cooperage. ‘Tata Tea Arsenal Soccer Stars’ will involve selection of 15 young football stars across India who will be sent to Arsenal FC for training.
The talent search programme is being conducted at eight centres (Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Goa, Shillong, Bangalore, Calicut, Kolkata) across the country. Three outstanding footballers from each centre will be chosen. Overall, 30 kids will be selected for fortnight-long training by Arsenal coaches in Kolkata. Out of these 30, 15 will make it to London.
The Mumbai leg will see the participation of 50 school teams for the tournament. Two finalists will make it to the All India final which will take place at Kolkata on May 17.
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