The Indian football team suffered a disastrous campaign in the AFC Asian Cup 2023. The Blue Tigers failed to win a single match, failed to score a single goal and failed to progress to the Round of 16.
Several football pundits and football lovers have lashed out at the AIFF, which is the governing body of football in India for its mismanagement. Despite having a good 2023 calendar year, India kickstarted their proceedings in 2024 in the worst possible way.
Kerala Blasters FC’s (which plays in the Indian Super League) Head Coach, Ivan Vukomanivic spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of their ISL fixture against Odisha FC in Bhubaneshwar.
Ivan Vukomanovic painted a grim picture of India’s present footballing scenario. He emphasized on the need to produce new talents in Indian football and also mentioned that the players had given their best in the AFC Asian Cup 2023.
“If teams across the ISL and other leagues in Indian football don’t continue producing young players, the consequences will be significant in a short time, perhaps within two years. The fact is, without the constant influx of new talent, the overall level of ISL would decline, leading to adverse effects on the national team. Reflecting on the disappointment after the Asian Cup, where the Indian national team didn’t qualify, my personal opinion is that the players gave their best, running tirelessly,” said Ivan Vukomanovic.
“When comparing ourselves to other countries, the evolution and improvement in many nations over the past four years are evident. The Indian national team’s notable victories in the Asian Cup against Thailand (4-1) and the UAE four years ago showcased promise. However, the current struggle to score goals indicates a lack of progress. While other countries have evolved, the Indian national team has not evolved accordingly,” the Kerala Blasters FC Gaffer added.
ISL resumes after a short international break
The top-tier football league of India is back in action and the first game on 31st January 2024 witnessed a draw between Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United FC. Hyderabad FC lock horns with FC Goa on 1st February 2024 and the match is slated to begin from 7:30 PM (IST). Kerala Blasters FC, who are presently in the pole position in the ISL 2023-24 points table, travel to the state of Odisha to lock horns with Odisha FC. While Odisha FC finished as runners-up of the Super Cup 2024, Kerala Blasters FC had failed to progress to the playoffs.
Also read: Super Cup 2024: East Bengal FC End Trophy Drought Of 12 Years; Beat Odisha FC 3-2 In Finals
