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I-League: India U-19 International Malswamfela Can Be A Lethal Goalscorer - Salgaocar Coach
Goal.com caught up with Salgaocar coach Tim Hankinson..
26-Nov-2009 11:35:07 PM
After being in charge of Salgaocar for nearly five months, Tim
Hankinson has got a fairly good idea about Indian football and thinks that for
it to improve, clubs should concentrate on youth development.
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “In India so far I have seen many players who play just for fun. That should not be the mentality because if you have to teach such basics to players well over their 20’s it means they did not get the requisite education required for any footballer at an young age.
“Clubs should be focusing on grooming players from very early on which would help them later in their careers. By giving importance to youth, the teams will make the league even more professional and eventually the national team will be benefited.”
The American has already started that process at Salgaocar as the Goan club signed three Indian Under-19 internationals last week.
After returning from the AFC Under-19 qualifiers in Iraq, defender Inderpreet Singh, midfielder Tirthankar Sarkar and forward Malswamfela all signed for Hankinson’s team.
On Wednesday the three had their first training session and after getting the first glimpse of the trio, Hankinson has high hopes for them, especially for one player in particular.
“Inder has his basics right, Tirthankar is a very skillful player. Malswamfela looks to be a very talented boy and can be a lethal goalscorer in future.
“One must remember that all of them are very young and are only 17 or 18 so we have to be patient with them. But of course they are eligible to play in the Goa league and can be options for I-League and Federation Cup also.”
The 54 year old then gave his thoughts on Salgaocar’s start to the season and said that his team will be in a much better shape when the league resumes in January.
He went on to say that his team have the ability to finish in the top six but first they want to perform well in December’s Federation Cup which will be held in Assam.
“I think we did ok in the first eight rounds but it was always going to be difficult because we were a work in progress.
“We didn’t sign too many players and were unable to have a proper pre-season so it was always going to be difficult.
“The break in the I-League has come at the right time for us because we will be able to work on our problems and prepare in a much better way for the Federation Cup.
“In January we will be better equipped so I think we can finish in the top six but first we want to perform well in the Federation Cup and if that happens the players will be even more confident when the I-League resumes.”
Hankinson then talked about his team’s goalscoring problems and how newly signed Guinean striker Mandjou Keita can take some of the burden off topscorer Eneke Ikenwa.
“Creating chances hasn’t been a problem for our team but finding the net has been. Eneke has done pretty well in that department but the rest of the team has struggled.
“I am sure we will improve on that front and I think Mandjou can also be a effective forward so I feel the goalscoring problems will be sorted, starting from the Federation Cup.”
Lastly Hankinson then talked about the teams which have impressed him and then picked his contenders for the title.
“Chirag are a good side, we conceded two goals against them because of some mistakes but overall they play good football. East Bengal are also a fine team and as you can see they are picking up results now so they should finishing in a good position.
“Mahindra of course are also looking good but the two teams who look the best are Dempo and Churchill.
“We did well to draw against a quality team like Dempo. We haven’t faced Churchill in the I-League but we did play against them in a charity match and then in the Goa league and they too are a top side,” he concluded.
Salgaocar are tenth in the I-League table with seven points from as many games.
Amoy Ghoshal
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “In India so far I have seen many players who play just for fun. That should not be the mentality because if you have to teach such basics to players well over their 20’s it means they did not get the requisite education required for any footballer at an young age.
“Clubs should be focusing on grooming players from very early on which would help them later in their careers. By giving importance to youth, the teams will make the league even more professional and eventually the national team will be benefited.”
The American has already started that process at Salgaocar as the Goan club signed three Indian Under-19 internationals last week.
After returning from the AFC Under-19 qualifiers in Iraq, defender Inderpreet Singh, midfielder Tirthankar Sarkar and forward Malswamfela all signed for Hankinson’s team.
On Wednesday the three had their first training session and after getting the first glimpse of the trio, Hankinson has high hopes for them, especially for one player in particular.
“Inder has his basics right, Tirthankar is a very skillful player. Malswamfela looks to be a very talented boy and can be a lethal goalscorer in future.
“One must remember that all of them are very young and are only 17 or 18 so we have to be patient with them. But of course they are eligible to play in the Goa league and can be options for I-League and Federation Cup also.”
The 54 year old then gave his thoughts on Salgaocar’s start to the season and said that his team will be in a much better shape when the league resumes in January.
He went on to say that his team have the ability to finish in the top six but first they want to perform well in December’s Federation Cup which will be held in Assam.
“I think we did ok in the first eight rounds but it was always going to be difficult because we were a work in progress.
“We didn’t sign too many players and were unable to have a proper pre-season so it was always going to be difficult.
“The break in the I-League has come at the right time for us because we will be able to work on our problems and prepare in a much better way for the Federation Cup.
“In January we will be better equipped so I think we can finish in the top six but first we want to perform well in the Federation Cup and if that happens the players will be even more confident when the I-League resumes.”
Hankinson then talked about his team’s goalscoring problems and how newly signed Guinean striker Mandjou Keita can take some of the burden off topscorer Eneke Ikenwa.
“Creating chances hasn’t been a problem for our team but finding the net has been. Eneke has done pretty well in that department but the rest of the team has struggled.
“I am sure we will improve on that front and I think Mandjou can also be a effective forward so I feel the goalscoring problems will be sorted, starting from the Federation Cup.”
Lastly Hankinson then talked about the teams which have impressed him and then picked his contenders for the title.
“Chirag are a good side, we conceded two goals against them because of some mistakes but overall they play good football. East Bengal are also a fine team and as you can see they are picking up results now so they should finishing in a good position.
“Mahindra of course are also looking good but the two teams who look the best are Dempo and Churchill.
“We did well to draw against a quality team like Dempo. We haven’t faced Churchill in the I-League but we did play against them in a charity match and then in the Goa league and they too are a top side,” he concluded.
Salgaocar are tenth in the I-League table with seven points from as many games.
Amoy Ghoshal
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