STIMAC CAN DO GREAT THINGS FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL, BRANDON, BHEKE SAY IN UNISON
The Indian National Team had their first practice session under newly-appointed Croatian Head Coach Igor Stimac at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi today (May 21, 2019).
The squad has assembled to prepare for the forthcoming Kings’ Cup in Buriram, Thailand. The King’s Cup is slated for be held in Buriram on June 5, when the Blue Tigers take on Curacao in their first match.
The former Croatia national team manager wasted little time in formalities and got right into the thick of action aiming to lead the Blue Tigers on an upward surge after inspiring performances in the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year.
Speaking on the side-lines of the practice session, Rahul Bheke who got his National Team call-up said: “The coach greeted everyone with a Namaste and shared his plans about Indian Football.”
He further explained: “As a team, the coach wants us to play together as a unit and if we have to be one of the best teams in Asia, we have to think big and follow our dreams.”
“He is very much positive about the growth of Indian Football and wants to take us further into being one of the best team in Asia,” he added.
Stimac took the squad to some fitness tests on the opening day.
Besides Bheke, Brandon Fernandes, who got a call-up to the National Camp for the first time since 2015 stated: “I was training a bit in the off season. But now I am here and I want to give my cent percent in every session.”
Lauding the experience of Stimac, who was part of the Croatia team in the 1998 World Cup where they finished third, Brandon said: “He is a very experienced coach and can do great things for this country. His plans and goal is to improve us and I feel that it was a good choice to appoint him.”
“I will be taking it day by day. My first target is to get into the final list for the King’s Cup. So right now I am focussing on that,” Brandon maintained.
Bheke signed off: “This is a chance which I can’t afford to blow up. I will give my best in the camp.” Brandon nodded.
The call-up to the national camp by new Indian coach Igor Stimac is the first step towards Jobby Justin realising his dream of donning the national colours.
Some birds aren't meant to be caged....wanna fly high, reads the status message on Jobby Justin's WhatsApp number.
The mercurial striker has followed his heart and chased the dream which he first saw as a teenager when he started kicking the ball on the sun drenched beaches in Vettucadu near Thiruvananthapuram.
Slowly Justin's dreams are taking shape. The call up to the national camp by new Indian coach Igor Stimac is the first step towards realising his dream of donning the national colours. "It didn't come as a surprise I was expecting it after a good season in the I league. It is dream for any footballer to play for the nation. Now I have been selected for the camp. Hopefully I can impress the coach and get into the playing eleven,’’ he said.
Jobby left a well-paying job, with Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to play professional football in Kolkata with East Bengal. It was during the Kerala Premier league that Alvito De Cunha, the former international and a talent scout for East Bengal ,spotted him and offered him an opportunity to play for the club.
"I was confident of my ability and always wanted to play in the I league, ISL and for the country. When the offer came I sought advise from I. M. Vijayan who asked me to discuss it with my family and take a right decision. There was initial resistance from my family especially my parents. Still I decided to explore the chance and applied for two months leave from KSEB. But when I reached Kolkata I found the professional set up there an eye opener. Everything from the practice pitches, the diet, training, the crowd was so different from what I was accustomed to. I instantly liked the atmosphere and decided to stay on," he said.
Jobby didn't get many opportunities in his first season for Red and Gold brigade. But he created an impression in the limited chances he got. The breakthrough came in the next season as his natural goal scoring ability saw him finish the I league as the top Indian goalscorer with nine goals.
It was a perfect season for Jobby until the skimirsh Aizwal's Kareem Naurin with saw him banned for six matches. "The spat happened in the heat of the moment. But it was a mistake and I have moved on," he said.
Jobby was pinched by ATK which saw his Facebook page being bombarded with hate messages from East Bengal fans. "I kind of expected this backlash as fans in Kolkata are very emotional. I thank them for their support but to me the change was the next logical step for my progress," he said.
Let see what jobby justin will do. Hope he will meet expectations of all the fans and will not be like eugenson lyngdoh type player who performed well in domestic league but flop wearing national team Jersey.
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This is the link to the article (in Bengali)
STIMAC CAN DO GREAT THINGS FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL, BRANDON, BHEKE SAY IN UNISON
The Indian National Team had their first practice session under newly-appointed Croatian Head Coach Igor Stimac at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi today (May 21, 2019).
The squad has assembled to prepare for the forthcoming Kings’ Cup in Buriram, Thailand. The King’s Cup is slated for be held in Buriram on June 5, when the Blue Tigers take on Curacao in their first match.
The former Croatia national team manager wasted little time in formalities and got right into the thick of action aiming to lead the Blue Tigers on an upward surge after inspiring performances in the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year.
Speaking on the side-lines of the practice session, Rahul Bheke who got his National Team call-up said: “The coach greeted everyone with a Namaste and shared his plans about Indian Football.”
He further explained: “As a team, the coach wants us to play together as a unit and if we have to be one of the best teams in Asia, we have to think big and follow our dreams.”
“He is very much positive about the growth of Indian Football and wants to take us further into being one of the best team in Asia,” he added.
Stimac took the squad to some fitness tests on the opening day.
Besides Bheke, Brandon Fernandes, who got a call-up to the National Camp for the first time since 2015 stated: “I was training a bit in the off season. But now I am here and I want to give my cent percent in every session.”
Lauding the experience of Stimac, who was part of the Croatia team in the 1998 World Cup where they finished third, Brandon said: “He is a very experienced coach and can do great things for this country. His plans and goal is to improve us and I feel that it was a good choice to appoint him.”
“I will be taking it day by day. My first target is to get into the final list for the King’s Cup. So right now I am focussing on that,” Brandon maintained.
Bheke signed off: “This is a chance which I can’t afford to blow up. I will give my best in the camp.” Brandon nodded.
Jobby Justin's dreams are taking shape
The call-up to the national camp by new Indian coach Igor Stimac is the first step towards Jobby Justin realising his dream of donning the national colours.
Some birds aren't meant to be caged....wanna fly high, reads the status message on Jobby Justin's WhatsApp number.
The mercurial striker has followed his heart and chased the dream which he first saw as a teenager when he started kicking the ball on the sun drenched beaches in Vettucadu near Thiruvananthapuram.
Slowly Justin's dreams are taking shape. The call up to the national camp by new Indian coach Igor Stimac is the first step towards realising his dream of donning the national colours. "It didn't come as a surprise I was expecting it after a good season in the I league. It is dream for any footballer to play for the nation. Now I have been selected for the camp. Hopefully I can impress the coach and get into the playing eleven,’’ he said.
Jobby left a well-paying job, with Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to play professional football in Kolkata with East Bengal. It was during the Kerala Premier league that Alvito De Cunha, the former international and a talent scout for East Bengal ,spotted him and offered him an opportunity to play for the club.
"I was confident of my ability and always wanted to play in the I league, ISL and for the country. When the offer came I sought advise from I. M. Vijayan who asked me to discuss it with my family and take a right decision. There was initial resistance from my family especially my parents. Still I decided to explore the chance and applied for two months leave from KSEB. But when I reached Kolkata I found the professional set up there an eye opener. Everything from the practice pitches, the diet, training, the crowd was so different from what I was accustomed to. I instantly liked the atmosphere and decided to stay on," he said.
Jobby didn't get many opportunities in his first season for Red and Gold brigade. But he created an impression in the limited chances he got. The breakthrough came in the next season as his natural goal scoring ability saw him finish the I league as the top Indian goalscorer with nine goals.
It was a perfect season for Jobby until the skimirsh Aizwal's Kareem Naurin with saw him banned for six matches. "The spat happened in the heat of the moment. But it was a mistake and I have moved on," he said.
Jobby was pinched by ATK which saw his Facebook page being bombarded with hate messages from East Bengal fans. "I kind of expected this backlash as fans in Kolkata are very emotional. I thank them for their support but to me the change was the next logical step for my progress," he said.
https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/jobby-justin-atk-east-bengal-kerala-state-electricity-board-interview/article27197936.ece
Hope he will meet expectations of all the fans and will not be like eugenson lyngdoh type player who performed well in domestic league but flop wearing national team Jersey.