The system behind success of Spain’s passing game figured in discussions as the AIFF coaches seminar kicked off at Navi Mumbai, near Mumbai.
Dutchmen Rob Baan and Wim Koevermans, appointed technical director and newly-appointed head coach for India respectively, touched upon the relevance of Spanish dominance for Indian football.
Baan said: “We can learn from Spain about the utility of educating players at all levels. It takes years to build a structure but once it is in place, it becomes easier for a country to move on the path towards success.” Before making a presentation to 75 coaches from I-League clubs and football academies on the seminar’s opening day, the TD also referred to the ‘Indian style’ of play.
His point was that ‘Indian style’ would evolve from consensus between experts and coaches. “We can’t teach one style and state that this should be way India plays. Our effort is to work together with coaches and create a style, so that we have common agreement,” said Baan, revealing that the seminar will revolve around three points – youth development, coaches’ education and referees education.
The seminar is an AIFF initiative, the first interaction with Indian coaches for the new foreign panel (Baan, Overmans and Australian Scott O’Donnell, designated AIFF Academies TD). “We are looking to use coaches education to work towards deciding an Indian style of play, so that youngsters are brought up on the same idea, not different styles in different states,” pointed out Baan.
Overmans, head coach of the Indian national team, remarked: “Spanish players are small and gifted, how many tall players are there in that side?. We also should try to find a style which suits the talent,” said the Dutchman, hinting that in future, smaller-made players quick on the ball also stand a chance, along with taller players.
Former India captain, Bhaichung Bhutia, one of the guest speakers on Monday, focussed on cohesion between players and coaches. “For any nation to do well, players and coaches should be working together.
Seminars like this bring many coaches under one roof and we should be making use of these experts, backed by a lot of experience.”
He added: “The supply to the Indian team has to be there. Right now we are not supplying the right kind of quality. The world is changing fast and we need to catch up.” Bhutia hopes such seminars will help raise standards of match officials. “Now when I watch football matches, even the I-League games, referees blow the whistle almost every minute. It does not make good viewing and has to change.”
National coach Savio Medeira, now deputy to Dutch chief coach Wim Koevermans, was one of many former internationals attending the AIFF coaches seminar, which commenced on Monday. Coaches from clubs/academies from different parts of India are also attending the week-long seminar, conducted by the national federation.
Baan conducted the first session, his ‘vision to develop Indian football.’ Koevermans’ session ‘what is football?’ was followed by the former's practical session, ‘coaching, the match-related approach.
Participants list as follows:
Godfrey Pereira, Noushad Moosa, Kundan Chandran, Shaikh Arshad Hussain, Abdul Azim Siddique, Nirvan Shah, Aqueel Ansari, Khalid Jamil, Raghuvir Pravin Khanolkar. Augusto D’Silva, Faruk Ahmed, Md. Yusuf Ansari (all WIFA); Birbal Singh, Ekendra Singh, Bitan Singh (Manipur); R Thyagraj, Stanley Rozario, Thomas Joseph, John Kenneth Raj, Mastan Ahmed, P Muralidharan (Karnataka), Prasanta Banerjee, Gautam Ghosh (IFA), Parthasarathy Thulasi, Syed Sabir Pasha, CM Ranjith (Tamil Nadu); S Geevarghese, CJ Charles, PM Saji, Biby Thomas, Satheevan Balan, Feroz Sheriff, Narayana Menon (Kerala); William Koso (Nagaland); Maymol Rocky, Marcus Pachecho, Francisco Bruto da Costa, Jude Barreto, Savio Medeira, Mario Aguiar (Goa), Tarun Roy, Anadi Baruah (Delhi); Sajid Yusuf, Hilal Parray (J&K); Surinder Singh (Chandigarh).
Coaches from clubs/academies: Tanumoy Basu (Pailan Arrows); Bino George (CUK), Arun Pratap (CUK Academy); Deepak (Kerala FA Academy); Sujay Sharma, Arata Izumi ( Pune FC); Ahmed Aslam Khan (SAI, Bangalore); Mathew D’Costa, Gavin Araujo (both from Dempo); Augustine Antao, Joaquim Crasto (both from Salgaocar); Suren Chhetri, Pranai Subba (United Sikkim Football Club); Richard Hood (Tata Football Academy); Manoj Kumar (Sports and Education Promotion Trust); Pradyuman Reddy (Shillong Lajong Football Club); Sunil Chaudhury, Cetano Pinho (ONGC); Ajit Braich (from Canada).
