Beyond The Goal

There seems to be nothing extraordinary happening with Indian football these days that I should jot down my thoughts on them. Nothing seems to be quite exciting, really. It’s that same slow baby steps which the Federation has been taking ever since the new secretary took over in November last year. No big strides as such as far as ideas are concerned. The national team recently lost 0-3 against UAE at Al Ain last week. Another disappointment in a World Cup qualifier. I’ve grown up reading about India’s debacles in the first round. It’s a difficult path. But then is it worth taking a dip in the competitive Asian qualifiers which has 50-plus teams? I don’t think so. Many would support me as well. After all, spending huge on a project (World Cup qualifiers) which doesn’t seem to generate much revenue or interest is nothing but a huge waste of money. Is there someone in the AIFF to guide the ship? I guess, all seems to be doing a routine 10-5 job. Hardly anyone has come up with a man...

Armando Colaco selected a 30-member squad on Tuesday for Indian football team’s upcoming friendlies against Maldives and Qatar. Yet, the roster failed to impress the aficionados who felt that the team genuinely lack a spark.  Moreover, why he dropped Viva Kerala’s Anil Kumar who has scored 11 goals, the second highest by an Indian after Jeje Lalpekhula in the I-League last season. There was no reason or rhyme. But Armando couldn’t explain the omission of Anil and inclusion of out-of-form Sushil Singh. “He (Anil) hasn’t come into the groove which we wanted,” was what said Armando, who it seems is out there to promote Dempo club. Nobody has a clue as to why he has packed the squad with seven Dempo players and decided to go with one player from I-League winners Salgaocar. Besides, in a surprise move, Armando has put Salgaocar's Anthony Barbosa along with Anil in the standbyes. Other Salgaocar players, Locus Lamare, Gilberto Oliviera and Khelemba Singh failed to make it because of a de...