Being the director of the All India Football Academies and Coach Education, former Australian defender Scott O’Donnell has the task of instructing coaches so that the next crop of footballers gets the right education. He talks to Abhishek Purohit about issues concerning Indian football, the grassroots programme and more
National team coach Wim Koevermans professes the short-pass game in his team. Do you think the upcoming talent can adjust to that playing styleIJ
Yes, of course. Why notIJ But, one problem which exists in Asian football is that the philosophy of the game is decided by the coach you have. If a Spanish coach comes in, he teaches you the Barcelona style while if you rope in, suppose a Brazilian, he preaches the attacking style. In India, you had coaches like Colm Tole, (Bob) Houghton or Savio Mediera, who played the team in their own mind-set. Here, we don’t have a set of culture or a game-philosophy. But now Robert Bann (AIFF’s technical director) has told everyone to play in this style in every team, club or academy. Barcelona continues to do well in that style because kids who are part of the Barcelona set-up, learn the style of play from the age of seven or eight and they know that that’s the only way of playing the game. So, if the kids in our academies play the short-passing game to develop their game and go on to represent the national team, you will see it as their natural style of play.
Coming to the academies in the country where you come into play, how have they been progressingIJ
I believe it is going okay. It’s not as smooth as the way most of us had hoped. We were too optimistic at the start for the smooth functioning of the academies in Mumbai, Goa, Pailan and Bangalore but things haven’t gone as per the plan. In a few days though, Bangalore will be a full-fledged academy, it’s under construction right now. The selected young players have been staying in Mumbai and Pailan right now. But, I am happy the way it is going although not in a pace I would have liked to and there are whole lots of reasons for the not-so-quick process of running of the academies.
What are the reasons for thisIJ
The first reason for the slowness is the issue of over-aged players. Experts and former coaches were telling me that it has been a big problem for years. Age-fudging is something serious which all — the states, the coaches at various centres, the fitness trainers, need to take care of. During the trials held in Kalyani (Kolkata) last year, we found out that out of 120 boys under the age group of U-14, 90 boys were over-aged and can you believe that some of them were 17. So, this has been a menace, we have to curb. Only three States – Delhi, Sikkim and Mizoram had sent players of correct age.
Secondly, we didn’t have the best of talents available in the open trial. We are not happy with the overall quality of many boys and girls and we can’t pick whoever comes in and plays soccer.
Thirdly, we found out that the selected bunch of players from the states at the national championships, were not the best of available there. That means, the best of talents are not representing the states and they were not exposed at a national championships. I am not blaming anyone for all of this. This is a collective responsibility of everyone involved in soccer in the country.
How do you think that the age-fudging issue can be tackledIJ
First of all, the Technical Directors of every state unit should take the responsibility. There are many methods which can be followed. X-rays tests on the knee, elbows as well as the dental condition can give correct ideas.
What is your view on the prospects of India’s hosting U-17 World Cup in 2017IJ
We are confident of getting the hosting rights for it. We are preparing for it and it will be a big test for Indian football. This will give a picture of where we stand. Also remember that, 2017 success will decide India’s much optimistic 2022 WC plans because if India features in the 2022 WC, the young players of the U-17 team in 2017, will play a vital role in it. The better the U-17 players, the better will be the chance of India making the 2022 WC. It is too early to say that whether we will make it or not. For that, our infrastructure, grass-roots development programmes, coaches educating projects need to improve. We got to select players at the age of seven and train them, track them and develop them to represent India. We are doing things what others have done more than 20 years ago. But, I am positive about Indian football.
Indiaare currently ranked 143rd. What is your opinion about the debate about the rankings where may say we deserve a better rankIJ
We are where we are. We deserve to be there. If you beat higher-ranked team, you go up. One friend of mine who is involved with Indian football, during a meet in Goa, had put in a PPT that in 2004 as well, India were ranked 143. That means we have done nothing.