A reflection on India U16′s superb showing in the AFC qualifiers and if we should be heralding the win as the coming of age of Indian football or if it’s just another false dawn showing what we are capable of but not what we can constantly achieve.
When was the last time an Indian football aficionado fell back fondly on performances of the Indian team? Nehru Cup in 2009? And before that? 2008 AFC Challenge Cup? The fact remains that for an Indian football fan, joy only comes in patches and sorrow/disappointment by the load. And when it does rain joy, it also brings with it hope of a future with much more success and fear of another embarrassing loss looming around the corner.
It was the same feeling I was torn between when our Under 16 team sealed a spot in the AFC main qualifiers with a stupendous show against some of the top teams in Asia. They now sit with the 39 best U16 teams in Asia and will look to spring another surprise or two enroute to the main event.
The Indian colts played 4 games winning 3 of them and crashing to an unpleasant defeat against hosts and last year’s finalists Uzbekistan, but the performance has had most Indians waxing lyrical about the talent our country possesses and what we could achieve if the youngsters were nurtured properly.
Joy
India’s show in the qualifiers bordered on both poor and excellent. It is tough to think of when an Indian football team (considering recent form, add the Indian cricket team as well) made such a strong start to a tournament. The youngsters showed Kyrgyzstan how it’s done with a 7-0 (yes, 7-0) win and followed that up with a classy performance. Up against a highly fancied Bahrain team, the Indian colts got through with a result many would’ve deemed unlikely at the start. India beat Bahrain 2-1 and looked set to seal the place in the main qualifying event, they just needed 1 more win to assure themselves of a spot and going on current form it looked on the cards. What made the victory all the more impressive was they way the boys came back in the second half after going a goal down. They kept building pressure against a solid Bahrain defense and eventually broke them down.
Despair
Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain were both ranked above the Indians in the group and the wins gave the team and their fans hope of upstaging giants Uzbekistan in the next game. The last edition’s finalists were clear favourites top the table being ranked #1 in the West Asia group and they certainly didn’t disappoint putting on an immaculate show to consign India to the depths again with a massive 9-0 win.The fear was back again – the story was all to similar – a solid start, a thumping received, team flattened, returning home disappointed. India would do immensely well to claw themselves back into the tournament after such a beating and the task ahead was mammoth. Tajikistan were higher ranked and in good form having won once and drawn once, a win for them would’ve sealed shut India’s chances. A win for Tajikistan too would give them a major push to reach the main qualifiers and a lot was at stake for both teams.
Joy
With things looking bleak the Indian U16 team sprung another surprise with a stunning display against their more esteemed opponents. They went a goal down again but showed admirable courage and ability to fightback by scoring 2 goals each half to assure themselves of another shot at going through to the main event. They won the game 4-1 and are now placed along with 38 other teams to fight The run in the tournament had belied the predictions of many pundits, but kept alive the hopes of millions that India can be a force to reckon with in the Asia circle at least. The coach, Thomas Joseph had given his team only a 50% chance of going through prior to the qualifiers in Uzbekistan. “We have a good team and we have practiced hard for the event. Uzbekistan are the hosts and stay the strong contenders. I’d say we have a 50-50 chance,” Thomas had said. But this team was much more than just ‘a good’ team as the results showed.
Before many celebrate the win as a herald for a new era of football in India, I must say a more cautious approach will benefit all parties concerned. Less heartache for the fans, less pressure for the players and subsequently a host of better performers for the country. But such a tremendous effort for such a young team cannot help but offer hope to many who want to see India as a tough competitor rather than just be lambs to the slaughter against tough opposition. And hope we will, because it has not forsaken our lands still.
