Constantine takes the rough with the smooth

In his year-and-half stint as the national soccer Stephan Constantine seems to have learnt to live with the Indian system. Avoiding any dire...

In his year-and-half stint as the national soccer Stephan Constantine seems to have learnt to live with the Indian system. Avoiding any direct confrontation but somehow managing to get his way, the Englishman despite several hurdles on the way is confident of achieving his primary goal 8211; improving the standard of the game in the country.

The 41-year-old ex-Chelsea player, who was here to witness to the National League Football encounter between Mahindra United and Salgaocar Sporting Club, during a talk with The Indian Express came across as a man who has opted to concentrate on the positives than rather get bogged down by the problems in Indian football.

First take the Adidas ball issue. On Constantine8217;s recommendation the NFL is now played with the internationally recognised new-age ball. But typical of Indian officialdom, the All India Football Federation AIFF has given just five ball to each of the 12 NFL teams to practice. Expecting to him to flare up one asks: Wasn8217;t this a half-measure on part of the AIFF? But Constantine seems to be happy with the fact that at least the AIFF has heeded his advice and diplomatically dismisses the issue by saying, 8216;8216;I don8217;t know why AIFF did it.8217;8217;

Ask him about the performance of the Indian teams in international competitions and one gets another guarded reply: 8216;8216;I may be happy but not satisfied.8217;8217; And as if on second thoughts he adds, 8216;8216;A gold medal at the Afro-Asian Games would have been an icing on the cake.8217;8217;

Constantine seems to have compromised on the clubs8217; issue as well. He said some time ago that the NFL would hamper India8217;s chances in the World Cup qualifiers. But today he took a changed stance. 8216;8216;If they players don8217;t play for their clubs they won8217;t be in the National team. It8217;s business after all. They need to earn a living for themselves.8217;8217;

For the World Cup qualifiers in February, Constantine is keen on a three-week coaching camp. He justifies by saying, 8216;8216;Other teams in fray like Japan, Singapore can afford to have short camps but we cannot.8217;8217;

But point him the fact that a long camp might be too taxing for the regular NFL stars, who also happen to be in the national, he backtracks. 8216;8216;I8217;ve noticed that many of the NFL teams are following the National team8217;s pattern. That probably makes my task easier.8217;8217;

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But there are few positives which Constantine wants the media to project. For one the improved fitness level of players. 8216;8216;Our fitness level is high but I think we must get better and better.8217;8217; He specifically mentioned the improved fitness standards of junior players. 8216;8216;You may not believe but the Chinese coach asked us what we8217;re doing with the juniors as they have not been overrun by the rivals in recent times.8217;8217;

Maybe, it is this optimism which helps Constantine ward off the several setbacks which he has encountered in his 19-month stint.