Groundwork leads to the World Cup

Divya Kalra / INDIATIMES NEWS NETWORK / Aug 11, 2007, 17:44 IST

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Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia is all set with his team for the ONGC Cup after a good pre-season tournament in Portugal.

Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia is all set with his team for the ONGC Cup after a good pre-season tournament in Portugal.

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Things will definitely change for Indian football, says the ace Indian footballerQ: Your team played its natural game at the just concluded Portugal trip. Do you see your match-winning performance in Portugal helping to boost team's confidence in the coming season?
A: It was a good pre-season tournament for us. We had a good training program. We had a few friendly matches which went very well. I think it was great because after a year we have come together, the team needed to be together for quite some time now. This trip was not only about being on the field to play, but also being together as a team off the field. It was definitely a good trip for all of us.
It definitely does help boost team's confidence, as it brought all of us together. The players have not been together for more than a year. So the Portugal trip did help the players, coming from different parts of the country, to be together after so long. I think we had a great training session. Everybody had an opportunity to play few matches.

Q: Where do we stand looking ahead to the ONGC Nehru Cup and other forthcoming tournaments? Do you think we have a chance to improve our rankings this year around?
A: I think the ONGC Nehru Cup is going to be a very good tournament for us. I hope it will go well with us. But it is also going to be difficult for us at the same time, because you have got good teams coming up like Syria, Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh - who are at the same level as India. Although Syria and Kyrgyzstan are a little better, it is going to be a good test for us.
We are playing after over a year, and the forthcoming event can help us improve our world rankings. If you got to improve rankings, you got to play tournaments, which did not happen for almost a year-and-a-half. The upcoming tournaments will provide a good scope for us to do well and climb up the FIFA rankings.
Q: According to coach Bob Houghton, the Indian football team can witness a 'good year ahead' as there are a number of international tournaments lined-up for India. What is your take on this?
A: Since we have not played for more than a year, we have really come down in the rankings. We have a lot of international matches coming up, and hopefully if we can do well in almost all the matches then obviously it is going to be great for us. This will definitely change Indian football and the way we are placed at the moment.
Q: Are the standards of Indian football changing under the influence of a foreign coach?
A: Yes, definitely. Under Mr Bob Houghton, the standards of Indian football are definitely improving. We have been doing well under his guidance.
Q: Do you see India playing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? Can we ever make it to the World Cup?
A: Pragmatically speaking, it is going to be very tough for us to play at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Let's not forget we have got Australia coming into Asia as well. We have got three teams from Asia. It's going to be very difficult. Nevertheless, we have got to work keeping in mind the long-term goals - we have got to work on seriously developing football in India.
We can absolutely make it to the World Cup. China has proved it and so have many other countries. It's not impossible for us. We have got to do a lot of groundwork before we come into the top Asian countries.
Q: How would you assess the role of All India Football Federation (AIFF) in promoting the sport in India?
A: At the end of the day, it's just not All India Football Federation (AIFF) that holds the responsibility. The clubs have to be more organised to promote the sport. I think everyone has to work on it - the state association, the academy itself, in fact everyone who can help in bringing up the sport in India. If any sport has to do well, everyone has to take the initiative. Then only I think there are chances of India putting up a good show.
Q: Do you see football being promoted at the grassroots level in India? Has India nurtured enough talent to make it big at the international level?
A: I think the federation (AIFF) is taking up the sport seriously at the grassroots level.
As for talent, I think it is not good enough for India. We are not doing enough to nurture talent; the measures have been taken on a very small scale. I believe we can do much better than what we are doing right now.
Q: Sunil Chhetri was voted the best player in the last edition of the National Football League (NFL). There has been a buzz around that Chhetri can be a successful export of Indian talent for international football markets. What is your take on Chhetri's potential?
A: Sunil Chhetri is a very good player, a very hard working player. I am sure in a couple of years with the experience he has got; he is going to do really well for himself and the nation. He is a player who is coming up at the moment. So I believe it is very important that you should not have too much pressure and too many expectations from him. Let him enjoy his game and let him work hard. He is doing well, and I am sure he can do even better. I think we should just let the guy play.
I believe the Indian football team consists of a number of talented youngsters. We have got the defender Irungbam Surkumar Singh, forward Manjit Singh, another brilliant defender Nanjangud Shivnanju Manju and a number of other good players in the squad.
Q: What is the scene of Indian football on the domestic front?
A: The scene of domestic football in India is improving for sure. I won't say in a big way, but it is definitely improving.
Q: What do you have to say about the continuing dominance of foreign players in India's domestic football? Are the foreign players getting more media attention?
A: It's bound to happen because if you got to have quality league, quality domestic tournament then you got to bring quality foreign players. I think it's bound when you have three good foreigners in your team, it does make a big difference. They would definitely dominate because when you import or bring in a foreigner, you would want to bring in the best. So I would say, it's good when foreigners are doing well.
It's not that foreign players get more media coverage or attention. You have one or two foreign players who are doing really well lately. Nevertheless, Indian players are getting equal media coverage as much as their foreign counterparts. On the whole, obviously the foreign players are doing well, but at the same time Indian footballers are also doing well.
Q: Indian football is not getting noticed at the world level. There are chinks in the Indian armour. Where are we lacking?
A: We are lacking good media coverage. I think the game itself has to be marketed in a much better way. I think the national media can cover the sport and give out the results much more than what they have been doing.
Q: Can we ever get back the golden era of India football, which prevailed until the 1970s?
A: I think we shouldn't get back, because the rest of the nations have really moved forward. We are still in the same era, so we should not get back. We have got to start improving. We have got to work on it. Back in 1960s-70s, every country was just starting football and a lot of countries were like India. But after that, the other nations have really changed; they have caught up with the world.
To win those medals, you need to have right infrastructure and right system. That's what the rest of the countries have been doing and we have not been doing that. We have been there where we were in 1950s and 1960s.
Q:Any veteran Indian footballer you look up to?
A: In India, as such no. I never saw any national team play because we didn't have those facilities. Otherwise, when I started watching football, I used to look up to Diego Maradona.
Q: You expressed your desire to retire from international football about a year back. Your fans in India want to see 'the torch-bearer of Indian football' for years to come. Will their wish be fulfilled?
A: I am happy to be back. I am enjoying my training, so at the moment I am happy. I need to enjoy my game and need to start scoring more. I want to play as long as I enjoy.
Q: On the occasion of India's 60 years of Independence, what message would you like to give to the football enthusiasts and most importantly the players?
A: I think there is a big interest in football in India, because of lot of European matches coming to our country. The football enthusiasts need to keep watching and supporting the Indian national team, the club side or whatever clubs you support. I am sure things would change, might take little time, but I am sure they will change.

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