Expectations are running high
back home after the Under-16
squad qualified for the AFC
Under-16 Championship finals.
It's nice to get results but we
need to remember the Youth
Development Programme (YDP)
is not all about results.
Obviously, the fact that we
qualified in 2007 and again in
2011 gives us that extra fillip
and tell us that we are marching
forward. More than results the
YDP is all about producing
players who can go onto
playing in the I-League and
represent the senior India
national team. That we have
been doing that consistently is
satisfying indeed.
The more the boys win, the
more confident they become.
We need to maintain the right
balance!
How has the preparation been
for the AFC U-19 Championship
qualifiers?
We have been training in Goa
where everything is in place.
Besides, the Camp in Shanghai
(China) was a very significant
one for us. We made a lot of
progress from where we
performed reasonably well
against some very tough teams
in the Weifang Cup. Prior to
landing in Tehran, we were
based in Doha for around 12
days. I'd say it came at the right
time for us. The facilities were
excellent and the practice
matches further helped. The
AIFF has done everything a
Federation can do to help us
train in the right manner.
How good is this bunch of
Under-19 boys?
They are as good as any other
batch. But I don't believe in
comparing teams. Batches
which produce results don't
always come out as better
players in the long run. I want
them to go and make a mark in
the I-League for the Pailan
Arrows after the Under-19
qualifiers end. That will define
them for sure.
India have been clubbed in a
tough Group along with hosts
Iran and Uzbekistan. How do
you rate our chances?
Our teams work hard and we
need to be competitive. I can't
guarantee we will win but we
will play to win. You need to
give yourself a chance against
the best and stay positive. It's
not for nothing that Iran and
Uzbekistan are way ahead of us
in the Rankings. Rankings don't
only reflect the performance of
the Senior Teams – rather, it
filters down to the age-groups.
And if we look there, you will
see they have been doing a
better job than us for a longer
period of time.
Since you took over the YDP,
the face of Indian football is
slowly but surely changing.
What is the secret of Colm
Toal's approach/success?
I have a strong objection to
what you say. It's not about an
individual; it's about team
work. If Indian football is to
move ahead, it's essential the
Indian coaches do well in the
long term. I have been lucky
enough to be surrounded by
competent individuals who I
believe, will change Indian
football in the long run. YDP is
not just about developing
players -- it's important the
coaches also get the
recognition.
Lets remember guys that even if we don't qualify, youth football will not determine the future. Look at European Youth Football.
Portugal, Italy, Netherlands Youth Teams for example did not make the EURO U21 2011 Championships yet I bet you in 5 years the senior teams will still be splendid. So even if we don't qualify the future is still bright.
Lets remember guys that even if we don't qualify, youth football will not determine the future. Look at European Youth Football.
Portugal, Italy, Netherlands Youth Teams for example did not make the EURO U21 2011 Championships yet I bet you in 5 years the senior teams will still be splendid. So even if we don't qualify the future is still bright.
You simply cannot Compare European Football(most developed region) with Asian.There are hardly 4 teams in Asia which belong to top class and rest are below average at World level,well if you look at top Asian teams they easily manage to qualify every year that's because there is no real competition unlike what happens in a developed continent like Europe.
So in Asia all these tourney's are nothing but reflection of who actually is improving.
I think he means Khaled Saad but he came from the Jordan League. <!-- s:confusion-shrug: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/confusion/shrug.gif" alt=":confusion-shrug:" title="Shrug" /><!-- s:confusion-shrug: -->
Brandon Fernandes will join back ASD Cape Town after Qualifiers
It was a good night last night for ASD graduate Brandon Fernandes. The Indian Under19 sensation, who only turned 17 last week, has been labelled the one to watch in these qualifiers in Iran. In the final friendly before the qualifiers, he lived up to the hype surrounding him and netted 3 in India's 4-1 victory over Al Reyyan.
Brandon, an attacking midfielder, is a tremendous prospect for the European game and returns to ASD Cape Town following the qualifiers.
ASD wishes him all the best for the next couple of weeks!
Brandon Fernandes will join back ASD Cape Town after Qualifiers
It was a good night last night for ASD graduate Brandon Fernandes. The Indian Under19 sensation, who only turned 17 last week, has been labelled the one to watch in these qualifiers in Iran. In the final friendly before the qualifiers, he lived up to the hype surrounding him and netted 3 in India's 4-1 victory over Al Reyyan.
Brandon, an attacking midfielder, is a tremendous prospect for the European game and returns to ASD Cape Town following the qualifiers.
ASD wishes him all the best for the next couple of weeks!
Head Coach Colm Joseph Toal’s concern lies elsewhere. The agonising wait for a training ground and a meeting room seems to find no end. The manner in which training schedules have being handled, pains him.
“In a footballing country as Iran, it’s hard to buy the logic that there aren’t any training grounds,” he maintains. “We landed here a day early but have lost out on the advantage as we haven’t been granted a field to train as yet,” a helpless Toal quips, as he shrugs his shoulders.
Surprisingly enough, other teams in the Group have the luxury of training while the Indians have stayed confined indoors. And when on Friday, a training ground was at last scheduled for the U-19 boys; it turned out to a handball pitch! Embarrassingly enough, a rival team from the Group were training on a full-size football pitch barely 50 metres away!
Comments
Expectations are running high
back home after the Under-16
squad qualified for the AFC
Under-16 Championship finals.
It's nice to get results but we
need to remember the Youth
Development Programme (YDP)
is not all about results.
Obviously, the fact that we
qualified in 2007 and again in
2011 gives us that extra fillip
and tell us that we are marching
forward. More than results the
YDP is all about producing
players who can go onto
playing in the I-League and
represent the senior India
national team. That we have
been doing that consistently is
satisfying indeed.
The more the boys win, the
more confident they become.
We need to maintain the right
balance!
How has the preparation been
for the AFC U-19 Championship
qualifiers?
We have been training in Goa
where everything is in place.
Besides, the Camp in Shanghai
(China) was a very significant
one for us. We made a lot of
progress from where we
performed reasonably well
against some very tough teams
in the Weifang Cup. Prior to
landing in Tehran, we were
based in Doha for around 12
days. I'd say it came at the right
time for us. The facilities were
excellent and the practice
matches further helped. The
AIFF has done everything a
Federation can do to help us
train in the right manner.
How good is this bunch of
Under-19 boys?
They are as good as any other
batch. But I don't believe in
comparing teams. Batches
which produce results don't
always come out as better
players in the long run. I want
them to go and make a mark in
the I-League for the Pailan
Arrows after the Under-19
qualifiers end. That will define
them for sure.
India have been clubbed in a
tough Group along with hosts
Iran and Uzbekistan. How do
you rate our chances?
Our teams work hard and we
need to be competitive. I can't
guarantee we will win but we
will play to win. You need to
give yourself a chance against
the best and stay positive. It's
not for nothing that Iran and
Uzbekistan are way ahead of us
in the Rankings. Rankings don't
only reflect the performance of
the Senior Teams – rather, it
filters down to the age-groups.
And if we look there, you will
see they have been doing a
better job than us for a longer
period of time.
Since you took over the YDP,
the face of Indian football is
slowly but surely changing.
What is the secret of Colm
Toal's approach/success?
I have a strong objection to
what you say. It's not about an
individual; it's about team
work. If Indian football is to
move ahead, it's essential the
Indian coaches do well in the
long term. I have been lucky
enough to be surrounded by
competent individuals who I
believe, will change Indian
football in the long run. YDP is
not just about developing
players -- it's important the
coaches also get the
recognition.
Portugal, Italy, Netherlands Youth Teams for example did not make the EURO U21 2011 Championships yet I bet you in 5 years the senior teams will still be splendid. So even if we don't qualify the future is still bright.
You simply cannot Compare European Football(most developed region) with Asian.There are hardly 4 teams in Asia which belong to top class and rest are below average at World level,well if you look at top Asian teams they easily manage to qualify every year that's because there is no real competition unlike what happens in a developed continent like Europe.
So in Asia all these tourney's are nothing but reflection of who actually is improving.
Who is that ???
It was a good night last night for ASD graduate Brandon Fernandes. The Indian Under19 sensation, who only turned 17 last week, has been labelled the one to watch in these qualifiers in Iran. In the final friendly before the qualifiers, he lived up to the hype surrounding him and netted 3 in India's 4-1 victory over Al Reyyan.
Brandon, an attacking midfielder, is a tremendous prospect for the European game and returns to ASD Cape Town following the qualifiers.
ASD wishes him all the best for the next couple of weeks!
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.africasoccerdevelopments.com/?brandon-scores-hatrick-for-india-u19s-in-afc-championship-friendly,435"; onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.africasoccerdevelopments.com ... iendly,435</a><!-- m -->
I think ASD it the best place for him right now after qualifiers. He is used to it, knows the coaches and I bet its better than what we have here.
Head Coach Colm Joseph Toal’s concern lies elsewhere. The agonising wait for a training ground and a meeting room seems to find no end. The manner in which training schedules have being handled, pains him.
“In a footballing country as Iran, it’s hard to buy the logic that there aren’t any training grounds,” he maintains. “We landed here a day early but have lost out on the advantage as we haven’t been granted a field to train as yet,” a helpless Toal quips, as he shrugs his shoulders.
Surprisingly enough, other teams in the Group have the luxury of training while the Indians have stayed confined indoors. And when on Friday, a training ground was at last scheduled for the U-19 boys; it turned out to a handball pitch! Embarrassingly enough, a rival team from the Group were training on a full-size football pitch barely 50 metres away!
WTF? <!-- s:handgestures-thumbdown: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/handgestures/thumbdown.gif" alt=":handgestures-thumbdown:" title="Thumb Down" /><!-- s:handgestures-thumbdown: -->