Mumbai: Armando Agnelo Colaco, a football coach who has received the Dronacharya Award, considers Khalid Jamil’s appointment to be significant for the Indian men’s senior national team. He believes it will aid in developing a more indigenous style of football and that Jamil will have a better understanding of his players than a foreign coach would.
As the first Indian to play for and coach the national team, Colaco was very optimistic about Jamil’s appointment and wished him all the best moving forward.
In their inaugural appearance at the CAFA Nations Cup, India secured a third-place finish by overcoming the higher-ranked Oman in a penalty shootout (3-2) after the match concluded 1-1 following extra time. This event took place at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan.
As the men’s team has experienced a difficult period in the last two years, women’s football has been expanding quickly. The Women in Blue qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time through the qualifiers, marking their first appearance in the tournament since 2003. Additionally, the India U20 women’s national team qualified for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in two decades.
When asked about the reasons for the resurgence, Armando stated, “AIFF’s focus on state-level leagues, the introduction of IWL2 and IWL, exposure to international campaigns or an increased number of competitions, and a greater emphasis on fundamental aspects of the game like fitness are all contributing significantly. With regard to creating and carrying out the women’s game road map, there is now greater clarity, which is evident in the results.
On October 14, Goa will host India’s AFC Asian Cup Final Round Qualifier Group C home match against Singapore. After an eight-year hiatus, the match will occur at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, a venue renowned for hosting significant international and domestic football events.
Colaco, who himself hails from Goa, believes that India’s match against Singapore will rekindle their passion for football and provide young people with a chance to see the international game.
“The return of international football to Goa will invigorate the Goan public and rekindle their love for the sport. Many veterans recall fondly the games at Fatorda, but the youth have not experienced these events. With the forthcoming match, we can forge a stronger bond with this venue,” Armando concluded.
