Opinion Downed by friendly fire
Consistent poor performances in the friendlies reflect on rankings.
The 3-0 defeat that India suffered at the hands of Tajikistan on Wednesday extended the country’s winless run away from home in international friendlies to eight years. The last time India won a friendly away was against neighbours Pakistan (1-0) on June 16,2005.
And if you are looking for a meaningful victory against a tougher opponent,then you have to rewind a year more: 3-2 win at Kuwait on November 5,2004. Since that match against Pakistan in Peshawar,India have played 16 international friendlies on foreign soil,drawing twice while losing 14. They have played teams from five continents ,under six different coaches four Indians (Sukhwinder Singh,Syed Nayeemuddin,Armando Colaco,Savio Medeira) and two foreigners (Bob Houghton and Wim Koevermans).
Friendly matches are crucial for every national team. Apart from a rare opportunity for the country to experiment with new talents and combinations,it gives them an opportunity to garner ranking points and move up the ladder. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has instead gone on with inconsequential invitationals tournaments like the SAFF and Nehru Cup,which do not offer ranking points. In fact,the AIFF has sacrificed two scheduled friendlies to be a part of this month’s SAFF Cup.
Consistent poor performances in the friendlies reflect on rankings. In 2005,India were ranked 127th. They haven’t bettered it in last eight years,consistently placed below the 140s. In September 2012,the national team touched its lowest-ever ranking in the interim,when it was positioned 169th. Currently,FIFA rates 144 teams above India. The AIFF has been urged to bring the domestic calendar in sync with the FIFA’s reserve dates for international friendlies. Due to several constraints of their own – mainly financial – AIFF hasn’t managed that.
Recent reports have suggested that the AIFF is out of budget for the national team this year. National team director Suvankar Banerjee recently told a Bengali daily that India may play only one more international friendly this year. The federation,which hasn’t managed to rope in a sponsor for the national team,is facing severe financial crunch and has only Rs 1.5 crore left for the national team this year. And that can only lead to one thing: further fall in the country’s ranking.
Mihir is a senior correspondent based in Mumbai
mihir.vasavda@expressindia.com
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