The AIFF has been criticised for doing precious little to strengthen the I-League and develop the grassroots. With no one apart from goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh playing competitive football abroad, the Indian players have been unable to match the intensity of international football.
Constantine feels the country has taken some important steps but rued the fact that they are unable to poach Indian players who stay abroad.
“Many of our neighbouring countries have been using this FIFA regulation for some time and it has had a profound effect on the national team’s performances. Sadly for us, we are unable to do this and pay the price against teams who have some foreign based players, sometimes, comprising up to 90 percent of the squad,” he said.
Its really sad to see our AIFF and even the Coach has lost his hope on the young talent that he has hand picked for the NT,only after a so called bad match against Guam.Instead of backing them up he his doing something foolish over the PIO issue,that is never going to happen in India.What he is doing instead is,demoralizing the NT players.
Agree with @Gaffertape. In the lead up to these matches, Stephen was talking as if he had 110% faith in these players and their ability... two games later, we need foreign-based guys. LOL!
Iran won't have 90% foreign based players...Palestine , Syria and Iraq are war torn nations...but byvthe looks of it all 3 would give Constantine's team a good hiding !
Issues of our players tech/tact deficiencies are all too obvious...
But why isn't anyone questioning the coaches "mistakes"... Indian football journalists aeem further behind the player's in terms of international standards
Bangladesh is planning to give citizenship to foreign players who are currently playing in various clubs in Bangladesh according to Bangladesh news paper.
Comments
Could not solve the issue in the game and now making excuses...
NEPAL had no " foreign based players" and could've beaten India...we only got a narrow win and a goal less draw !!
Should focus on better preparation and not injury inducing Army boot camps !
Issues of our players tech/tact deficiencies are all too obvious...
But why isn't anyone questioning the coaches "mistakes"... Indian football journalists aeem further behind the player's in terms of international standards