By IANS
New Delhi : There was no progress in Indian football, Englishman Bob Houghton admitted candidly after completing a year as chief coach of the national team.
"No progress has been made. We didn't play much in the last season. We played just two Asian Cup qualifiers – one against Japan and the other against Saudi Arabia. That's too little," he said.
Houghton blamed the cramped domestic fixture, which did not allow the team to play many international matches and improve its rankings. India is currently languishing at the 165th spot in the FIFA rankings.
"The rank 165 is not an indication of India's strength but it is an indication of how many points we have," he quipped.
"The calendar didn't allow sufficient time for the national team. When I came last year, my first match was against Saudi Arabia and six days before the match I was forced to release six players for a domestic tournament. This happens nowhere else in the world," he said.
The coach, however, added that the problem has been sorted out this season (2007-08). "This year the national team will be playing about 15 international matches. That will significantly improve our rankings and also help the team to be together for a long time."
In August, the national team will play the ONGC International Tournament and then the SAFF Cup in December, jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and the Maldives. India's first World Cup qualifier match for the 2010 event in South Africa will be held Feb 6 next year though the draw for the qualifiers is yet to be made.
In March, India will take part in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Trophy, where teams outside the top-15 take part.
"The AFC Challenge Trophy is also important in the sense that the finalists will be able to take part in the Asian Cup," Houghton pointed out.
He said that compromises should be made by the football clubs in the country to build the national team by providing adequate break to the players.
"We have to make a compromise for the national team. There are lot of problems, which are not easy to solve. But unless we compromise somewhere, the national team will find it difficult to compete," he said.
Houghton made it clear that releasing players for club duties ahead of international ties is not acceptable.
Accordingly, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has decided not to allow players in the national camp to perform club duties 14 days prior to any international match.
"A choice needs to be made. The only thing that will take India to a new level is good facilities and good coaches. A good national league and a national team goes hand in hand," he said.