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The Indian Dream: Dr.B.C.Roy Trophy Is More Important For Indian Football Than The 2010 World Cup - Colin Toal
Well done boys...
23-Jun-2010 11:18:00 AM
By Rahul Bali
While the focus of the entire football community is directed towards the ongoing 2010 World Cup, the India U-16 team were in the African nation to participate in the Coca Cola International tournament. The India Colts bowed out of the semi-finals to Russia after some exhilarating performances in the group stage where they thrashed Egypt 13-1 and even managed a draw against Guatemala and Mexico.
Colin Toal, the technical director of Indian football, was pleased with the performance of the boys who came out of the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy held last year. But the query which automatically springs to mind is if our juniors can match with some of the best in the world, what goes wrong when the boys begin to mature or grow?
"I'm not sure about those comparisions between senior and youth levels. The performance of our boys was good and I'm pleased with them. It shows that our boys can be competetive. The step from junior to the senior level is enormous," highlighted Toal.
The Irishman pointed that the youth programmes are meant to produce players and not necessarily muster good results.
"It is important to realise that we must produce players from our system. The results are secondary. We need to encourage the boys," he added.
The Junior Nationals or Dr.B.C.Roy Trophy is on at Kolkata and Toal is busy spotting talent for those who might make the cut for India U-19 team which shall compete in the AFC qualifiers next year.
"We are here to pick 76 boys who shall join us in Goa on the 12th of next month and following a three week coaching camp, we shall sift it to 30 boys who will be with us for the next 16 months before the AFC qualifiers. This is a very important group for our future."
The U-16 team in South Africa would have to wait for a few years before they again get an opportunity to represent the nation as they shall form India's next U-19 team which shall play the qualifiers in 2013.
"Our U-14 boys went to Iran in May and drew 2-2 with them. I believe it's a good benchmark for us as Iran are one of the highest ranked nations. Those set of boys shall represent India at the U-16 qualifiers next year and those who are in South Africa," said Toal.
The number of Indians hooked onto the 2010 World Cup is gradually increasing and Toal points that the greatest football carnival is irrelevant to India.
"I keep telling people that the tournament in Kolkata is more important than the World Cup in South Africa. It has no relation to Indian football and nothing that help us make it into the World Cup someday. This trophy is our future. The talent is always there but it's about what you do with it," concluded Toal.
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Colin Toal, the technical director of Indian football, was pleased with the performance of the boys who came out of the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy held last year. But the query which automatically springs to mind is if our juniors can match with some of the best in the world, what goes wrong when the boys begin to mature or grow?
"I'm not sure about those comparisions between senior and youth levels. The performance of our boys was good and I'm pleased with them. It shows that our boys can be competetive. The step from junior to the senior level is enormous," highlighted Toal.
The Irishman pointed that the youth programmes are meant to produce players and not necessarily muster good results.
"It is important to realise that we must produce players from our system. The results are secondary. We need to encourage the boys," he added.
The Junior Nationals or Dr.B.C.Roy Trophy is on at Kolkata and Toal is busy spotting talent for those who might make the cut for India U-19 team which shall compete in the AFC qualifiers next year.
"We are here to pick 76 boys who shall join us in Goa on the 12th of next month and following a three week coaching camp, we shall sift it to 30 boys who will be with us for the next 16 months before the AFC qualifiers. This is a very important group for our future."
The U-16 team in South Africa would have to wait for a few years before they again get an opportunity to represent the nation as they shall form India's next U-19 team which shall play the qualifiers in 2013.
"Our U-14 boys went to Iran in May and drew 2-2 with them. I believe it's a good benchmark for us as Iran are one of the highest ranked nations. Those set of boys shall represent India at the U-16 qualifiers next year and those who are in South Africa," said Toal.
The number of Indians hooked onto the 2010 World Cup is gradually increasing and Toal points that the greatest football carnival is irrelevant to India.
"I keep telling people that the tournament in Kolkata is more important than the World Cup in South Africa. It has no relation to Indian football and nothing that help us make it into the World Cup someday. This trophy is our future. The talent is always there but it's about what you do with it," concluded Toal.
Become a fan of Goal.com India's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything related to the beautiful game!
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