By IANS
Kolkata : Buoyed by the successful pre-season outing in Portugal, Indian football skipper Baichung Bhutia is confident of a good show in the ONGC Nehru Cup starting Aug 17 in New Delhi.
Talking to IANS here, the ace striker said: “It’s been a good preparation to launching the new season. It had never been this good before. The players are fit and the morale is high after a good tour of Portugal.”
The Indian team remained undefeated during their Portugal visit. G.D.R. Monsanto held the Indians goalless in their final outing with most of the regulars being rested by the visitors.
In the previous matches, India scored creditable victories over Reactive Agueda (3-0) and AC Marinhense (3-2) apart from a 1-1 draw against Odivelas FC.
During the tour Baichung himself was in sparkling form, scoring four goals in two matches.
On his expectations from the upcoming tournament, Baichung said: “We hope to do well. It will be tough, but we hope to do well.”
“The team is shaping up well. New players like Clifford Miranda, Pradeep, Ajyan, Manjit Singh and Mahesh Gawli are striking the right chord. It’s a healthy bunch, playing together for some time and we hope to get the results.”
The ONGC Nehru Cup that is being revived after nearly two decades has been reduced to a five-nation tournament after Iran’s refusal to send its national team.
Placed second in Asia behind Japan in the FIFA rankings, the Iranians offered to send a club team instead of the national squad. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) rejected the idea as the tournament has been recognised by FIFA and ranking points would be at stake in every game.
Among those who have confirmed participation, Syria is ranked 113 in the world and 16th in Asia while Kyrgyzstan is at 152. India at 162 is placed ahead of both Cambodia (170) and Bangladesh (172).
On national coach Bob Houghton’s training methods, Baichung said, “The coach does not only train us as individuals, but also shapes the whole squad as a team. How the back four support the midfield players and how they all help the forwards is all part of the scheme of the soccer we play. It is good. Really good.”
Talking about the Portugal experience, Baichung said, “It was a good tour. The players are looking forward to the next tournament now. The teams in Portugal were not of a very high standard, being mostly from second and third division sides. But we did well to show a few wins.”
Asked to comment on the gulf between the lower division sides and the top clubs and the national team, he said: “Yes there is a huge gulf. But these clubs are the breeding grounds for young players. They have the grade and junior development programmes, which are very active. It is through these programmes that players like Cristiano Ronaldo have come up.”
On the current lack of vision in Indian football, Baichung said, “I am tired of saying this every time, but I will say it again. There is no planning. You are not able to plan looking at 20 years down the line. For this the administrators need to take classes from advanced soccer nations, travel, see, learn and implement according to the Indian conditions.”
“If the federation asks for my opinion I will surely give it,” he added, when asked if he was ready to help.
Baichung also said he was happy with his club Mohun Bagan’s team this time and hoped to score as many goals as possible for the green-maroon outfit and bring the club a few trophies.