Must serve as a tight slap on AIFF's face. Now they should know that no one gives a fuck about our ranking. Had we played against better teams on fifa dates instead of playing poor standard teams, situation might have been different.
You shouldn't give a nod to an international tournament when you have your top teams playing cup tournaments back home.
Also clubs saying no to FA is clearly undermining their authority, which doesn't happen even here in India. I remember AIFF had threatened sanctions against clubs if they fail to release players for camps and tourneys and the clubs reluctantly obliged. Ex- Bob Houghton's Asia Cup 2011 squad had a very long camp with trips abroad.
Kenyan FA failed big time. But I hope it is still an International Friendly and carries FIFA points.
FIFA calender says their official match dates are from June 14to July 15 that's wc
So does this mean non wc countries should arrange matches in this window only?
What about countries playing with wc bound teams as a preparation? So they won't get to play wc which is fair as, they didn't qualify but they won't even get window for NT
Point is if this tournament was arranged on FIFA window may be there wouldn't be such issues
1) They must be having some commitments with sponsors that they need particular number of international matches in a given calendar year. We were lucky to have WC / AFC qualifiers, now they have finished.. Without disturbing ISL, such tournaments are crucial to get some matches for the NT. Nehru Cup was better organised but they have dismantled it.
2) FIFA match dates only means that clubs have to release their players. Anyways it is off-season for most of the countries and players are available. You cant expect to have this tournament during world cup-who will watch or telecast it on TV ?? So it has to be done before world cup. This match is also a Friendly as per FIFA website. Other countries are playing Friendlies too.
3) Why blame Kenya? Kenya was not their first choice either. They were promoting South Africa team. When they didnt come, they roped in Kenya. Their are many countries who would have come if they had planned it properly.
4) Going forward, these shambolic tournaments have no sense. Organise proper friendlies. Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga have no problem organising Friedlies, why are they not organising any during ISL.
Comments
We probably could have coerced Kenya to play us an one-off friendly on a FIFA day.
You shouldn't give a nod to an international tournament when you have your top teams playing cup tournaments back home.
Also clubs saying no to FA is clearly undermining their authority, which doesn't happen even here in India. I remember AIFF had threatened sanctions against clubs if they fail to release players for camps and tourneys and the clubs reluctantly obliged. Ex- Bob Houghton's Asia Cup 2011 squad had a very long camp with trips abroad.
Kenyan FA failed big time. But I hope it is still an International Friendly and carries FIFA points.
FIFA calender says their official match dates are from June 14to July 15 that's wc
So does this mean non wc countries should arrange matches in this window only?
What about countries playing with wc bound teams as a preparation? So they won't get to play wc which is fair as, they didn't qualify but they won't even get window for NT
Point is if this tournament was arranged on FIFA window may be there wouldn't be such issues