Friendly is the way forward

Around the time that India won the Nehru Cup football tournament in September, coach Wim Koevermans suggested that India ought to look ahead and play more regularly during the FIFA dates for international friendlies.

The window for international friendlies is generally portrayed by top club managers as an avoidable exercise which leaves their players fatigued or injured. But for a country like India, ranked 168th in the world, matches played during these dates — like their away game at Singapore on Tuesday — are an opportunity to engage in a rare competitive fixture as well as to rack up a few rating points. The official sanction also obliges clubs to release the required players for national duty during the specified dates.

The importance of making use of the FIFA dates becomes more apparent when one considers the lack of meaningful alternatives. International tournaments currently remain the main avenue for Indian players to gain exposure to quality opposition. During this year's Nehru Cup, several teams, including finalist Cameroon, had not sent their full-strength squads, making results against such sides meaningless beyond the tournament. Despite winning the Cup, India slipped to 169, their lowest ever ranking, in the FIFA list released three days after the final. This was India's third Nehru Cup win in three years. But their ranking at the end of 2009, before this run of form, was 134, more than 30 spots above their current standing.

Another approach is to send the national side on training camps to the more established hubs of football. Unfortunately, the only game time the side gets during these trips are against second or third division sides and the whistle-stop tours are over even before the players are acclimatised to the weather.

Playing regular friendlies, therefore, makes a lot more sense. Goalkeeper Subrata Paul said recently that if they were to play on all FIFA dates over the next 18 months, India would break into the top 100. India lost the away game to Singapore 2-0, but it can at least be said that the horse was led to the water.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Jagan Mohan away, his party feels the heat

I-League needs change

Waiting, watching proved fruitful for Cong in Karnataka

Under him, they always scored