Coach Constantine faces tough challenge with U-23 football team
The tournament will be a tough nut to crack for the beleaguered side, who had twice failed to cross the preliminary rounds in 2013 and 2015.
Against the backdrop of hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup in October and chaos on having a single league in the country, India’s U-23 team will kick off their campaign at the AFC U-23 qualifying tournament against Syria here at the Al Sadd Stadium on Wednesday.
The tournament will be a tough nut to crack for the beleaguered side, who had twice failed to cross the preliminary rounds in 2013 and 2015. Clubbed with the hosts, Syria and Turkmenistan in Group C, India will have an uphill task this time as well in seeing off the fitter and faster West Asian sides.
“It’ll be a difficult task. We don’t give importance to this age group and we don’t have too many U-23 players in the league,” said Stephen Constantine, head coach of the senior Indian team who is in-charge of this squad as well. “Some don’t have clubs while others play five-six games in the whole season. If you don’t give attention to these boys, you won’t get good results at this level.”
The 23-member squad landed here on Saturday from Singapore, where they won and lost one in a two-match friendly series. But one wonders why the team travelled to the South-East nation when ideally the All India Football Federation (AIFF) should have organised pre-tournament matches against West Asian teams.
Playing against the superior and top-ranked opponent has its merit and demerits, but that is still a better choice than playing against the 169th-ranked Singaporeans.
The federation’s flip-flop on coach selection is another reason why India have failed to build a strong youth side over the last five years. First, Aussie Arthur Thomas Papas guided the ship in 2012 followed by senior national coach Dutchman Wim Kovermans. In between, the federation handed over the mantle to former Salgaocar midfielder Savio Medeira.
Inept player selection, age-cheating and almost zero activities in some states have also jeopardised youth development programmes.
India U-23 squad
Goalkeepers: V Kaith, K Singh, S Patil; Defenders: S Ranjan Singh, Lalruatthara, J Lalrinzuala, D Singh, N Kumar, Sairuathkima, S Golui, K Singh Grewal; Midfielders: A Thapa, N Poojari, N Kumar, G Singh, Mawihmingthanga, V Rai, R Singh, L Changthe; Forwards: H Sharma, A Deory, M Singh, D Lalhlimpuia