Ya, I am more surprised at Alwyn and Holicharan making the team. Alwyn should be told to improve if he wants to play for India again and Holicharan is just not good enough... maybe U23 probable but not a senior team player. Give me Jayesh Rane over Holicharan anyday (not saying Rane should be in the squad).
And yes... so much better than the days of Raju Gaikwad.
also expect nabi to return next time ...he was fucked for 1 season bcoz of ISL that cost him place in NT ..now after playing full season he will get required match practice and his confidence back .... but ya India don't require him to beat Nepal ....
Players started reporting and I cant wait to get them on the training pitch...am buzzing !! Jai Hind - stephen constantine
“I am privileged to be the sole Coach in India’s Football History to have been invited to Coach the Indian National Team for a second time. I am honoured,” he said
“A lot of work is left to be done. We are in a very difficult position at the moment. It’s a tough match ahead and hopefully, we look to get a result.”
“The set of Players which we had invested in for the Ian Rush Trophy, the Milk Cup, Afro Asian Games during my first stint in India went on to serve Indian Football for over a decade,” he echoed reflecting on the need to think ‘long term.’
Subrata Paul, Subhashish Roychowdhury, Debabrata Roy, Gouramangi Singh, Jerry Zirsanga, Habibur Rahaman Mondal, Vimal Pariyar amongst others were all part of Constantine’s U-19 squad which had won the Ian Rush Trophy.
Besides, the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, Climax Lawrence, Surkumar Singh, Rennedy Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Dipak Mondal, Samir Naik, Abhishek Yadav, who were all part of the Constantine’s victorious LG Cup triumph in 2002, went to represent India in the 2011 Asian Cup in Doha.
Furthermore, the National Coach maintained that the State Associations need to “take real interest in the U- 17 and the U-19 Leagues.”
“The best Players will be playing in the Hero Indian Super League. The League is for readymade Players. So it’s up to the States to start focusing on the U-17 and U-19 Leagues and build it for the future.”
People of this region love their Football: Constantine
“There’s a specific reason why I have come to Guwahati to play against Nepal. It’s because of the crowd,” Constantine elaborated in a packed Media gathering in the largest Cosmopolitan City of the region.
“People love their Football here. We look forward to having a packed Stadium on the 12th against Nepal. I expect all Football lovers to make as much noise as possible and get behind the Players. It’s a very important match for us.”
“Indians have always loved their Football as much they love their Cricket. I remember over 100000 fans turning up to cheer for India against Japan in Kolkata for the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers,” he recollected.
The Indian Team will be having their first practice session at the Indian Gandhi Athletics Stadium in Sajusarai on Thursday.
Comments
Alwyn Holicharan and Dika to dont deserve to be in the team but a better side than Wims squad with Raju Gaikwad
would leave Constantine since its his 1st squad and he doesnt know alot of players and depends on feedback from others
“A lot of work is left to be done. We are in a very difficult position at the moment. It’s a tough match ahead and hopefully, we look to get a result.”
“The set of Players which we had invested in for the Ian Rush Trophy, the Milk Cup, Afro Asian Games during my first stint in India went on to serve Indian Football for over a decade,” he echoed reflecting on the need to think ‘long term.’
Subrata Paul, Subhashish Roychowdhury, Debabrata Roy, Gouramangi Singh, Jerry Zirsanga, Habibur Rahaman Mondal, Vimal Pariyar amongst others were all part of Constantine’s U-19 squad which had won the Ian Rush Trophy.
Besides, the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, Climax Lawrence, Surkumar Singh, Rennedy Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Dipak Mondal, Samir Naik, Abhishek Yadav, who were all part of the Constantine’s victorious LG Cup triumph in 2002, went to represent India in the 2011 Asian Cup in Doha.
Furthermore, the National Coach maintained that the State Associations need to “take real interest in the U-
17 and the U-19 Leagues.”
“The best Players will be playing in the Hero Indian Super League. The League is for readymade Players. So it’s up to the States to start focusing on the U-17 and U-19 Leagues and build it for the future.”