Home
Indian football is entering a critical phase with multiple youth and senior national team events beginning in the next few months. However, many of the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs are refusing to let their players go for the upcoming training camps, a decision that has not gone down well with the Team India head coach Igor Stimac.
In a recent interview, the Croatian minced no words when discussing the ongoing tension between the ISL clubs and the Indian national team players. "I didn't come to India to lick a**es. I came to India to help," he stated unequivocally.
"I didn’t, pardon my language now, come to India to lick a**es. I came to India to help. If you want my help, I need to tell you the truth. You can face it, you can help me to overcome the problems or you can tell me we’re not going to change anything, please coach go home, and I will go home happily and we’re going to stay friends."
The Croatian coach's comments come at a time when the rift between ISL teams and the national team management is widening, particularly over the release of players for national duties.
Indian Super League Teams: A Roadblock to National Success?
Starting next week, the Indian Football team will be participating in a series of international events, beginning with the King’s Cup tournament in Thailand. This will be followed by the Asian U-23 qualifiers in China, the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia, and eventually the World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup.
However, the preparation for these crucial tournaments has hit a snag. Over the weekend, only 12 out of the 25 players reported for the U-23 team's training camp. Top Indian Super League teams like East Bengal, Kerala Blasters, and Mumbai City have not released their players, citing that the training camp falls outside the FIFA-earmarked dates for national teams.
Igor Stimac on Asian Games: A Plea for Timely Preparation
Stimac, who is currently in Croatia, will join the team in Thailand for the King’s Cup on September 2. He expressed concerns that a similar scenario might unfold for the Asian Games and the Asian Cup. India has named Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Sandesh Jhingan as the over-23 players for the Asian Games squad. However, questions loom large over their participation.
"The most difficult period is in front of us. And without blaming anyone, it’s not our fault in AIFF (All India Football Federation) or not in people from FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited, the body that runs the ISL) that we had the pandemic, that Asian Games and Asian Cup got postponed and that without deeper communication and discussion, those tournaments were brought in the middle of the calendar."
Indian Players in ISL: A Double-Edged Sword?
The Indian Super League players are caught in a tug-of-war between club commitments and national duties. While ISL has provided a platform for Indian football players to showcase their talent, the league's schedule is increasingly clashing with international obligations. This has led to a situation where the Indian players in ISL are unable to join the Indian national team players for crucial preparatory camps.
The Future of Indian Football: World Cup Qualifiers and Beyond
Stimac further added that most countries have found a way to provide their national teams with adequate time for preparation. The Indian Football team is undefeated this year, underlining the importance of long-duration preparatory camps. The coach is ready to sacrifice the FIFA window in September and October for a four-week camp before the Asian Cup and two weeks before the World Cup qualifiers.
"How can one coach say that’s not important? That would be silly. What I said precisely was that I’m ready to sacrifice the FIFA window in September and October to get four weeks camp prior to the Asian Cup, and two weeks prior to the World Cup qualifiers in November. That’s what I said… At that time, we didn’t know that the Asian Games are coming in September. So that’s a lie."
The ongoing debate between the Indian Super League and the national team management over the release of Indian football players is at a critical point. With a series of important tournaments lined up, including the World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup, the need for a resolution is urgent. Igor Stimac's candid remarks serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders in Indian football. The time for action is now.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
Nabil Bentaleb pens three-year deal with boyhood club Lille
Luis Rubiales faces backlash over unsolicited Kiss; mother begins hunger strike in protest: Reports
