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MUMBAI: Robert Douglas Houghton, head coach of Indian national football team, speaks exclusively with NewsX on current scenario of Indian football. After winning the Nehru cup for second successive year, it may be Indian football‘s hour of glory but Bob Houghton feels that the coming few months are extremely crucial for Indian football
With the selection of next General Secretary of All India Football Federation imminent, Bob says, ?I hope we create some executive positions that can make decisions without going to the huge committees.?
Showing his detest on clubs spending money on players, he said, ?Clubs need to invest money in infrastructure rather than paying big money to the players. That does not ensure better quality of the football; it only makes the players richer. We can achieve a low amount of success with the current domestic situation.?
He then comments on state associations, ?If the state associations are not willing to change then don?t complain that you are 150 in the world, because that?s where you will be.?
He also talked about on why initiatives like bringing Maradona and Bayern Munich to India are not in favor of Indian Football. ?What we need are people who are committed not to associate themselves with Manchester United or Bayern Munich or Maradona but Indian Football. These visits do nothing to help Indian football. The money can be better spent somewhere else.?
On the importance of having a national team, Bob said, ?The national team is the only vehicle that will drive football forward in India.?
Houghton remains grounded despite the players giving him credit for winning 2009 Nehru Cup that marked the completion of hat trick of titles at home. ?One needs to be sensible and maintain a balanced outlook to move on?, he says.
About being criticized by some quarters of Indian football for making wrong decisions, he goes on to add, ?There?s nothing that any ex-Indian player sitting in Kolkata can say to my interest.?
Tune into Bob on the Ball for the full version of this exclusive interview this Saturday, 5 September at 10:30 PM, only on NewsX.
