North Korea make it even tougher: Bhutia

NEW DELHI: While India face the onerous task of qualifying for the 2015 Asian Cup, former India stars Baichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh feel a professional youth development programme is essential for India's progress into the big league of Asia.
India, clubbed with North Korea, the Philippines and Tajikistan in Group B, will face Tajikistan in their first match on March 9 in AFC Challenge Cup which gets underway in Kathmandu on Friday.Group 'A' consists of hosts Nepal, Maldives, Palestine and Turkmenistan.
"There is no youth planning in India. Even if we start now, it will take 15 more years. Every I-League team should have a youth academy. That's the only way up," explained Renedy.
India's preparations for Challenge Cup did not start on a good note as they lost to Oman 5-1 and Ajerbaijan 3-0 in friendlies last week. "It's sad to see the national team lose. But we have to keep playing these matches more often," added the former India midfielder.
Bhutia, who played a key role in India's AFC Challenge Cup win in 2008, said the fans should not take the result of the friendlies seriously as India have the potential to spring surprises in the event in Kathmandu.
"I watched the friendly match against Oman. But we can't judge our team on the basis of a friendly because in such games we tend to try out a few things, a few combinations. That is what coach Savio Medeira tried against Oman," he said.
The former India captain, who retired last year, said qualifying would be difficult for the young Indian side. "I know it will be difficult for us as the team is in a tough group along with North Korea," Bhutia said. The winner of the tournament will earn a ticket to 2015 AFC Asian Cup.