Houghton's blueprint for Indian football

National football coach Bob Houghton has suggested that the Indian domestic structure be revamped further to continue the progress made by the team since his tenure began 27 months ago.

As per the blueprint submitted to the All India Football Federation, Houghton wants tournaments like the century-old Durand Cup in Delhi [Images] to be played during the pre-season between July and August, so that teams can use it as a preparatory ground ahead of the I-League's September start.

"The structure of domestic football needs to be changed further if India needs to compete well at the international level," Houghton said.

"We have qualified for the 2011 Asian Cup. Two days ago our under-16 team finished in the top 12 in Asia. Our I-League team (Dempo) is in the semi-finals of the AFC Cup. We now need to look ahead," the Englishman said in Mumbai on Friday.

The AIFF has already implemented Houghton's idea of holding I-League matches concurrently with the state league between September 2008 and April 2009, but from the next season the plan given by the national coach envisages nine months of I-League with matches conducted on week-ends only.

"From the 2009-10 season the I-League and state leagues need to be conducted concurrently from September to May with the I-League ties only on Saturdays and Sundays and state league matches on Wednesdays and Thursdays," he said.

Houghton said he has already had discussions on this issue with Mumbai clubs on Thursday and he'll proceed to Kolkata next for taking up the matter with the clubs there before meeting representatives of the clubs in Goa [Images], where he is based.

"In order to go forward it's very important that we get a connect in the whole of Indian football," he said.

Emphasising the importance of the national league and the state leagues, which he said would serve as a feeder system, to work closely, Houghton said that for a country to become better at the international level a strong domestic league is vital.

Houghton said that the state leagues could use under-19 and under-16 players more and give sufficient rest to I-League players who are not allowed to play in the next state league tie if they had turned out for more than 45 minutes in the previous I-League match.

"From the next season the I-League should see 14 or 16 teams so that they get to play 26 or 30 matches each," he said.

"We also need to conduct the Federation Cup, which is the main qualifying tournament for events at the Asian level, but not in the way it has been conducted so far by which some teams get only one match to play before they get eliminated.

"The idea is that the preliminary rounds are played with the teams divided into groups of four each," he said, adding, "This is a much better structure for Indian football."

Houghton said he plans to conduct a national camp from January 2-16, 2009 in Dubai during the course of which the Indian team may play one friendly match.

"In July 2009 we have the Nehru Cup, then the World Cup qualifiers (for 2014 finals) in December 2010, followed by the Olympic [Images] qualifiers in February, 2011 and then the Asia Cup in June 2011," Houghton elaborated.

The national coach said India should target the 2018 World Cup with their current under-19, under-16 and under-13 players in mind.

"This is 2008, we have seven years to prepare for the 2015 qualifiers," he declared.

Source:Rediff.com

Country before club, stresses Houghton

Kolkata

Oct. 16: Bob Houghton isn’t one to mince words and on Thursday, at an interactive session with the coaches of the city’s ‘Big Three,’ the national football coach once again took a dig at the country’s footballing calendar, where "playing for clubs is given more preference than playing for the national team."

"All our national team players are spending three-quarters of their time for their respective clubs. We definitely have had a few successes in the last year-and-a-half. Thus, for us to take giant steps forward, clubs need to come forward and lend a helping hand," he said.

"Only when there’s a break in the club schedule, players are available for national duty. This is absolutely the wrong way. They should play together at regular intervals. To have a successful national team, there should be a major cut down on minor tournaments. When you have an I-League, it’s rather sensible to scrap the Federation Cup. You can develop a successful India team only if the I-League is of a higher standard," he added.

The Briton’s concern for football aspirants in India was evident when he stopped short of expressing his shock at the 14 Tata Football Academy youngsters being recruited by Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.

"For a rookie, the ideal platform is the state league. Here what happens, these youngsters are recruited by famed clubs but are made to spend a sizeable amount of time sitting in the benches. It reminds me of Joaquim Abranches, who two to three years ago, had done extremely well in the under-21 level. But after being signed up by Dempo, we hardly get to hear his name. "So, this requires the state leagues to be played alongside the I-League. In that way, we might not lose the talented ones."

Having guided India to the Nehru Cup and AFC Challenge Cup titles, Houghton has his focus firm on the World Cup 2018.

"Qualifying for the 2014 World Cup would be more than a huge task. Hence, the concentration is on four years after (2014). By then, the under-16 and under-14 guys will be of the ideal age since it’s they who are the future of Indian football."

Among the current crop in his team, Houghton feels striker Sunil Chetri and goalkeeper Subrata Paul should play elsewhere rather than confining themselves here.

"I think both Paul and Chetri should first start in a country like Portugal and then, gradually look for greater heights," he said.

Importantly, Chetri is the only player he has communicated with since his arrival in the city. "I had met him (Houghton) at the gym the other day. We just had an informal chat, general discussions to be more precise. As far as playing elsewhere is concerned, I too would like to hone my skills under improved facilities and infrastructure," Chetri told this paper.

Source:Howrah.org

Indian players more confident after I took over: Houghton

Kolkata, Oct 17 (IANS) India’s soccer coach Bob Houghton Thursday claimed that the confidence of team has gone up since he took over in 2006. He has also drawn up a two-year plan for the national team with an eye on the Asia Cup in January 2011.Houghton, who met coaches of the three big clubs - East Bengal, Mohun Bagana and Mohammedan Sporting - Thursday, said the national team needed to succeed first for Indian soccer to make a mark.

“On the other hand, the I-League has to be the premier tournament and very competitive. The two must go hand in hand.” said the coach, who is set to renew his contract next week.

Houghton said from next year, I-League would start in September with 14 teams and continue till May.

The Nehru Cup would be staged in August, with Houghton pondering over suggesting to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that Australia and Japan under-23 teams be invited for the event.

The Briton said India have got an invitation from Thailand for the King’s Cup where Denmark are likely to play. “We also have an invitation from the UAE”.

Houghton felt India should now play regularly against Asian teams ranked between seven and 20 which would help the side improve its rankings.

Houghton has also suggested that I-League matches be played in the weekends and the state league matches on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa, East Bengal coach Stanley Rozario and Mohammedan Sporting coach Sabbir Ali agreed with Hughton’s plans.

“Everybody will approve this unless he is a real traditionalist or has vested interests because this is the calendar the world follows.

Houghton said the calender needed to keep some space for the FIFA tournaments, and ensure there wss not much gap between national team camps.

Houghton has also prepared a blueprint for the Indian Olympic team keeping in mind the next edition of the quadrennial extravaganza in 2012.

“We have to strike a right and balance. We don’t want it go the IPL way. In England, 70 percent of the sponsorship money goes straight to the players. Here, it’s not possible at the moment because we don’t have that many sponsors”.

Houghton thought inviting teams like Bayern Munich to play an exhibition match would not do any good to Indian soccer.

“That sponsorship money will be better served if they build a couple grounds with synthetic grass.”

Houghton predicted that within two years, the national team could include eight to nine Punjab players and said Dempo Sports Club had a good chance to make it to the summit clash in the AFC Cup.

Source:Thaiindian.com

Asia starts taking notice: India invited to Thailand, UAE

Kolkata, October 16 * 14 teams in I-League from next year
* Nehru Cup is going to be bigger and better
Bob Houghton was fuming as a section of the media jostled for space and delayed the start of the press conference. Actually, it was the lack of farsightedness from the organiser’s part (the IFA) who arranged this interaction at a medium-sized Yuba Bharati Krirangan room.

The Indian football team coach wanted to explain his plans at the blackboard. He was cramped for room as the tripods and other gadgets occupied the free space. The Englishman threatened to walk out. Sanity restored only after IFA secretary Utpal Ganguly took the microphone and made a request. Then the venerable coach took charge and he was in his element.

The head coach of the national team talked about his meeting with the club coaches where he laid down the roadmap for the future. Initially, he has chalked out a two-year plan keeping an eye on the Asian Cup in January 2011.

He talked about Dempo’s chances in the AFC Cup, which according to him is very good. He also talked about the marketing aspects and the player-power.

“For Indian football, to make its presence felt, the national team has to get success. On the other hand, the I-League has to be the premier tournament and very competitive. The two must go hand in hand,” he said.

So, from the next year onwards, I-League will start in May with 14 teams and will continue till September.

In between, there would breaks for the senior national team’s camp in January, March and July. The Nehru Cup will be played in August. This time, Houghton is thinking about suggesting the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to invite Australia and Japan Under-23 teams for the event.

Qualification for the Asian Cup has meant that India are now among the Asian elites and Houghton plans to raise the bar for the national team’s friendlies.

“We have an invitation from Thailand for the King’s Cup where Denmark are expected to play. We also have an invitation from the UAE. When I took over, the confidence of the players was very low. We started with a 7-1 defeat. I had never been to a 7-1 game before. From there, it has been some progress, especially in the last season. But we still have a long way to go and should plan accordingly,” he said. The coach is set to renew his contract next week.

“Leave aside the top five-six Asian teams. Seven to 20 should be our target now and we should play more matches against them,” he added.

Houghton’s plans, if materialised, will see I-League matches in the weekends and the state league matches on Wednesdays and Thursdays. It will also see top national team players are not playing more than 40 matches a year.

Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa, East Bengal coach Stanley Rozario and Mohammedan Sporting coach Sabbir Ali, who attended the day’s meeting with Houghton, gave their go-ahead. “Everybody will approve this unless he is a real traditionalist or has vested interests because this is the calendar the world follows. We have to keep some space for the Fifa dates, we have to ensure there is not much gap between national team camps. There should be continuity. At the same time, the scheduling will see that the clubs are not deprived of the services of their players,” Houghton observed.

He has been maintaining that the 2018 World Cup finals is the realistic hope for India to qualify. So, a separate plan for the Olympic team is also ready.

As for marketing, he said: “We have to strike a right and balance. We don’t want it go the IPL way. In England, 70 percent of the sponsorship money goes straight to the players. Here, it’s not possible at the moment because we don’t have that many sponsors. I think it’s a waste inviting teams like Bayern Munich to play an exhibition match. That sponsorship money would be better served if they build a couple grounds with synthetic grass.”

He wound up saying that Dempo have a very good chance to qualify for the AFC Cup final and singled out JCT for special praise for producing quality players consistently.

“In two years down the line, you would see eight to nine Punjab players in the national team,” he concluded.

Source:IndianExpress.com

Col.Kar Is Deputy General Secretary Of AIFF

Colonel Gautam Kar has been appointed as the deputy general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) today and shall officially join the office from next month.

The Indian FA has been on the lookout for someone who could assist Mr.Alberto Colaco, general secretary in discharging the duties listed in the Constitution of the federation.

Speaking to Goal.com from Delhi, Col. Kar said, “Yes, I have been appointed as the deputy general secretary and have received the appointment letter earlier today.”

The minimum criterion for the position was to have a background in sports administration and be between the age of 40 to 50 years. The work profile of the post includes implementation of the decisions and policies of the Executive Committee, administration of the Secretariat and supervision of the staff in performing their duties and development of the Indian FA.

“I always want to work for football and I see this as another opportunity to do so. I have to prove a point in doing so. I believe that an individual has to deliver what is asked of him or the perform or perish theory,” said the match commissioner.

Col. Kar met the ailing AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi in the first week of October in Kolkata. “That was just a formality,” informed Col.Kar.

Source:Goal.com

Bob unveils big plans

Kolkata, October 16 : Bob Houghton has big plans for Indian football. The Englishman laid out a blueprint for the sport’s development in the country after meeting the coaches of Indian clubs.
“For Indian football to make its presence felt, the national team has to get success. The I-League has to be the premier tournament and very competitive,” he said.

From 2009, the I-League will start in September with 14 teams and will continue till May. In between, there will be breaks for the senior national team’s camp in January, March and July. The Nehru Cup will be played in August. Houghton is also considering a suggestion to the All India Football Federation, urging them to invite the U-23 teams of Australia and Japan for the event.

Qualification for the 2011 Asian Cup has meant that India are now among the Asian elite and Houghton plans to raise the bar. “We have an invitation from Thailand for the King’s Cup where Denmark are expected to play. We also have an invitation from the UAE,” he said. “We should aim to be in the top seven to 20 teams in Asia,” he added.

Source:Indianexpress.com