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Blast From The Past: AFC Challenge Cup '08
The tournament that saw the Men in Blue do India proud...
13-Feb-2010 11:04:00 AM
By Atishay Agarwal
India have performed admirably in continental competitions over the last few years, during which they've won two Nehru Cups, a SAFF Cup, and the biggest of them all, the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008.
As the tournament comes around for its third edition in Sri Lanka, beginning 16th February, one can't help, as an Indian, looking back at the tournament that really signaled progress and ushered in a new positivity that has since been surrounding Indian football. India emerged victorious at the event that saw teams like DPR Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and co take part, cementing their place in the Asian Cup 2011 in the process.
The Challenge Cup was also a big test for India in the sense that the AIFF was given the responsibility to host an AFC event, a test which the governing body failed quite miserably, to be honest. The Gachchibowli stadium in Hyderabad was chosen as the main venue for the tournament, with the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium lending a helping hand, if I may say so.
While the pitch at the Gachchibowli before the tournament began could be classified as decent, the one we saw by the time the semi finals came along was in complete shambles. Torrential rain in and around Hyderabad had seen the grassy pitch reduced to slush, with the football reduced to wrestling and a bit of hit-and-run.
Moving away from the state of the pitch, India, as usual, were slow starters at the tournament. I've made my peace with the fact that the national team is always a touch slow to get out of the blocks in such tournaments, as happened in the Nehru Cup as well. Also, the U-23 side showed remarkably similar traits in Bangladesh during the SAFF Cup last year.
India's group wasn't an easy one to come through from by any stretch of imagination, as the likes of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and 2006 winners Tajikistan all were physical sides, ones not easy to beat. It became more evident in India's opening fixture against the Afghans, where the hosts looked slightly toothless in attack, in what was a scrappy affair.
India probably did less than Afghanistan to merit the win, but they still got it, thanks to midfielder Climax Lawrence popping up in the box in injury time to slot home the winner, and send the sprinkling of fans at the Gachchibowli into delirium. It was a crucial result, as next up were Tajikistan, who stifled the men in blue effectively, and never let them get into their groove. As a result, India played a 'long-ball game', coming under criticism from many quarters. However, the hosts showed a lot of fight and character, drawing 1-1 and setting themselves up nicely for the match against the Turkmenistanis.
It was a crunch game, and India managed to pull off a 2-1 win in a slightly better performance, in the process topping the group while Tajikistan finished second. What was perhaps even more crucial was that the Indians avoided DPR Korea in the semi finals. Korea had topped their group, as Myanmar finished second.
The semis were a shame. Like mentioned earlier, the pitch at the Gachchibowli was reduced to nothing but mud, and the game resembled a dogfight more than a football match. Of course, it suited India more, as our players, like it or not, are used to such conditions. A Sunil Chhetri goal eight minutes from time was enough to see us through to the final against Tajikistan, who defeated DPR Korea.
The tournament showpiece remains one of the biggest moments in Indian football, also, one of the most magical. It also helped to cement that killer instinct in the national team, helping them to play at their best when it truly matters. The AIFF, in a much-needed move, shifted the final to the Ambedkar Stadium due to conditions in Hyderabad worsening, and finally, we saw a real crowd at the tournament.
Thousands pored into the ground in New Delhi, who came to see a repeat of India's triumph in the 2007 Nehru Cup. And they got an even better performance from the lads. In what was one of India's most emphatic performances in recent years, a superb hattrick from Sunil Chhetri, and a majestic goal from "Player of the Tournament" Bhaichung Bhutia gave India a stunning 4-1 victory over their more accomplished opponents, while the atmosphere at the Ambedkar remains one of the most memorable in an Indian football match till date.
The images still haven't deserted memory. Bhaichung climbing the advertising boards on scoring, or hoisting the tricolour after the final whistle. Chhetri doing 'the aeroplane' after scoring, or sliding on his knees after his hattrick. These are memories that will live on to inspire many youngsters to take up the game, and continue to believe in Indian football.
The squad that will represent India in Sri Lanka this time around might not contain the same faces, or the same coach, but carries the same potential along with them, and we need to gee them on all the way, as they strive to create more memories for the Indian football fan.
As the tournament comes around for its third edition in Sri Lanka, beginning 16th February, one can't help, as an Indian, looking back at the tournament that really signaled progress and ushered in a new positivity that has since been surrounding Indian football. India emerged victorious at the event that saw teams like DPR Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and co take part, cementing their place in the Asian Cup 2011 in the process.
The Challenge Cup was also a big test for India in the sense that the AIFF was given the responsibility to host an AFC event, a test which the governing body failed quite miserably, to be honest. The Gachchibowli stadium in Hyderabad was chosen as the main venue for the tournament, with the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium lending a helping hand, if I may say so.
While the pitch at the Gachchibowli before the tournament began could be classified as decent, the one we saw by the time the semi finals came along was in complete shambles. Torrential rain in and around Hyderabad had seen the grassy pitch reduced to slush, with the football reduced to wrestling and a bit of hit-and-run.
Moving away from the state of the pitch, India, as usual, were slow starters at the tournament. I've made my peace with the fact that the national team is always a touch slow to get out of the blocks in such tournaments, as happened in the Nehru Cup as well. Also, the U-23 side showed remarkably similar traits in Bangladesh during the SAFF Cup last year.
India's group wasn't an easy one to come through from by any stretch of imagination, as the likes of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and 2006 winners Tajikistan all were physical sides, ones not easy to beat. It became more evident in India's opening fixture against the Afghans, where the hosts looked slightly toothless in attack, in what was a scrappy affair.
India probably did less than Afghanistan to merit the win, but they still got it, thanks to midfielder Climax Lawrence popping up in the box in injury time to slot home the winner, and send the sprinkling of fans at the Gachchibowli into delirium. It was a crucial result, as next up were Tajikistan, who stifled the men in blue effectively, and never let them get into their groove. As a result, India played a 'long-ball game', coming under criticism from many quarters. However, the hosts showed a lot of fight and character, drawing 1-1 and setting themselves up nicely for the match against the Turkmenistanis.
It was a crunch game, and India managed to pull off a 2-1 win in a slightly better performance, in the process topping the group while Tajikistan finished second. What was perhaps even more crucial was that the Indians avoided DPR Korea in the semi finals. Korea had topped their group, as Myanmar finished second.
The semis were a shame. Like mentioned earlier, the pitch at the Gachchibowli was reduced to nothing but mud, and the game resembled a dogfight more than a football match. Of course, it suited India more, as our players, like it or not, are used to such conditions. A Sunil Chhetri goal eight minutes from time was enough to see us through to the final against Tajikistan, who defeated DPR Korea.
The tournament showpiece remains one of the biggest moments in Indian football, also, one of the most magical. It also helped to cement that killer instinct in the national team, helping them to play at their best when it truly matters. The AIFF, in a much-needed move, shifted the final to the Ambedkar Stadium due to conditions in Hyderabad worsening, and finally, we saw a real crowd at the tournament.
Thousands pored into the ground in New Delhi, who came to see a repeat of India's triumph in the 2007 Nehru Cup. And they got an even better performance from the lads. In what was one of India's most emphatic performances in recent years, a superb hattrick from Sunil Chhetri, and a majestic goal from "Player of the Tournament" Bhaichung Bhutia gave India a stunning 4-1 victory over their more accomplished opponents, while the atmosphere at the Ambedkar remains one of the most memorable in an Indian football match till date.
The images still haven't deserted memory. Bhaichung climbing the advertising boards on scoring, or hoisting the tricolour after the final whistle. Chhetri doing 'the aeroplane' after scoring, or sliding on his knees after his hattrick. These are memories that will live on to inspire many youngsters to take up the game, and continue to believe in Indian football.
The squad that will represent India in Sri Lanka this time around might not contain the same faces, or the same coach, but carries the same potential along with them, and we need to gee them on all the way, as they strive to create more memories for the Indian football fan.
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