What have been your priorities. And what’s going wrong?My priority has always been youth development: I’ve tried my level best to inculcate this awareness among all clubs in India. Sadly, it’s just not happened. Believe me, that’s the only way out. Educating coaches has been the next thing but again.some take it seriously and others not. So where is the missing link?Where’s the under-19 league, coaches education? It’s ought to happen on a full scale — the same way the NFL is run. But then that can only happen if every club has a pool of young players developing alongside the seniors. Coaches in India.what’s your opinion about them?Most of them are quite cooperative and want to upgrade themselves. One needs to be in sync with modern-day football. Some coaches are still to come to terms with what I am trying to say. AFC coaching licences are a must. And finally it’s a collective effort that reaps dividends. Do you feel the AIFF is to be blamed?Not really. It’s simple, if clubs take the initiative a major problem is solved. AIFF could begin getting serious and ensure things happen. Having spent almost two years, your take on Indian football?Talented. But then the case in India is that we don’t make our own players but find them — almost by accident. Like for instance the recent U-14 camp I came across a goalkeeper good enough to play the U-17 squad. There are doubts being cast on your capabilities.Losing is disappointing but I am doing my job to the best of my ability. I can say for sure that nobody will give these boys as much as I have given. I have been invited by Iran, a powerhouse in Asian football, to conduct a coaches’ training programme next week which all their National coaches would attend. There is talk that you should quit.Quit? Why should I? I cannot make the players to the standard of the J-League. I can only work with these players, all of whom have been absolutely fantastic. At the end of the day, we are not in the same class as Japan. Were there any positives from the humiliation?We fought well, despite being at the receiving end. Japan were not doing well against Asian teams but unfortunately they clicked on the day we happened to be opponents. The scoreline tells us where we stand at the Asian level. What’s the difference between Japan and India?It’s simple, the line-up said it all. Average age: Japan 22.3 years, India 25.6 years. Average height: Japan 178 cm, India 186 cm. Average weight: Japan 68 kgs, India 75 kgs.never mind the talent. What’s the next thing on agenda?The LG Cup is in August and we have to start preparing for it. Next we will have to try and win the game when Japan come over to Kolkata.
