JAMSHEDPUR: Former Indian goalkeeperBrahmanand Shankhwalkar on Sunday said that the country has plenty of talents and could do well in international level if the AIFF hosts foreign teams on a regular basis.
"It is not that we do not have talents. We have good players with technique, physique and speed but we lack style of play and international exposure at home," Brahmanand, an Arjuna awardee, said in Jamshedpur.
We should invite foreign teams to play at home more than sending our boys abroad, he said.
"The matches against the foreign teams should be played in every states, particularly in football in football crazy places such such as Kerala, Goa, West Bengal to promote and encourage the sport," Brahmanand, the assistant coach of Goa's Sesa Football Academy that participated in the AIFF 2nd Division I-League qualifying round matches, said.
Brahmanand strongly advocated for a 2nd division league rather than a qualifying round for elevation to the main I-league.
Ten teams from across the country should be selected based on points earned in the qualifying round and than conduct a 2nd division league for them. This would provide more opportunities for upcoming players to prove their mettle, he said.
Regretting that the number of tournaments in some of the states like Kerala has come down, Brahmanand, whose international career lasted for about a decade in the 1980s, said attempts should be made to organise more tournaments in states as well as home and away leagues to promote football.
Brahmanand said instead of the top players, the second rank and upcoming footballers should be preferred in the local tournaments and leagues organised at state level.
The local leagues should be made purely for locals to provide more exposure, Brahmanand said.
The top footballers should be allowed to concentrate when they were playing I-league or representing the country to ease their physical load, he said adding that such move would certainly provide opportunity to others to improve their performance.
Brahmanand said the idea to start "local leagues for locals" was to create more strikers.
Brahamanand claimed Sesa Football Academy was the only team participating in the qualifying round I-league that did not hire a single foreigner.
Asked if India lacks a qualified coach, Brahmanand said it was ironical that when the Indian brains were sought-after in all sectors, the meritorious football coaches were not being trusted.
"Identify talented coaches, educate them properly and ensure excellent facility including payment. I am confident India is not lacking as far as good coaches are concerned," the former goalkeeper said.
"It is not that we do not have talents. We have good players with technique, physique and speed but we lack style of play and international exposure at home," Brahmanand, an Arjuna awardee, said in Jamshedpur.
We should invite foreign teams to play at home more than sending our boys abroad, he said.
"The matches against the foreign teams should be played in every states, particularly in football in football crazy places such such as Kerala, Goa, West Bengal to promote and encourage the sport," Brahmanand, the assistant coach of Goa's Sesa Football Academy that participated in the AIFF 2nd Division I-League qualifying round matches, said.
Brahmanand strongly advocated for a 2nd division league rather than a qualifying round for elevation to the main I-league.
Ten teams from across the country should be selected based on points earned in the qualifying round and than conduct a 2nd division league for them. This would provide more opportunities for upcoming players to prove their mettle, he said.
Regretting that the number of tournaments in some of the states like Kerala has come down, Brahmanand, whose international career lasted for about a decade in the 1980s, said attempts should be made to organise more tournaments in states as well as home and away leagues to promote football.
Brahmanand said instead of the top players, the second rank and upcoming footballers should be preferred in the local tournaments and leagues organised at state level.
The local leagues should be made purely for locals to provide more exposure, Brahmanand said.
The top footballers should be allowed to concentrate when they were playing I-league or representing the country to ease their physical load, he said adding that such move would certainly provide opportunity to others to improve their performance.
Brahmanand said the idea to start "local leagues for locals" was to create more strikers.
Brahamanand claimed Sesa Football Academy was the only team participating in the qualifying round I-league that did not hire a single foreigner.
Asked if India lacks a qualified coach, Brahmanand said it was ironical that when the Indian brains were sought-after in all sectors, the meritorious football coaches were not being trusted.
"Identify talented coaches, educate them properly and ensure excellent facility including payment. I am confident India is not lacking as far as good coaches are concerned," the former goalkeeper said.
