#6 Changing Attitudes towards the National Team
If a National Team doesn’t play often, how do you expect it to perform in one-off matches? Constantine got that right, and ensured AIFF is looking at it differently now. Constantine made sure the ideas are rhythmic to the team and they are able to execute the plans well on the field.
Currently, we’re fighting with a scenario in which top clubs like East Bengal FC and Bengaluru FC don’t even let their players leave for International games, a pity for the National Team setup and its growth. Constantine has always given the National Team a pool of players to choose, and he has done the same now.
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Even after his contract gets over, the next coach would have a wide range of talents to choose from. For the record, Sandesh Jhingan played at right-back for Kerala Blasters FC in the first ISL, but Constantine molded him into one of the finest centre-backs in the country, using his strength, physicality, heading abilities and positioning to good use.
Before Pronay Halder, probably Mehtab Hussain would be the only name you would recall as the holding/defensive midfielder for the national team. Since the arrival of this kid, Constantine has helped his confidence a lot and ensures Pronoy feels like a leader, to organise the defence behind him, a role he seems to enjoy on the field. One look at the team and the conversations this lad has with the whole defensive lot tells you a lot about his participation and his will to ensure his team’s security at the back.
India might not have the services of the imperial Sunil Chhetri in the next 3-4 years, but we have a lot of new and exciting prospects in the National setup, thanks to the British coach. In his semi-rigid, semi-flexible ways, Stephen Constantine has carried Indian football from hallows to stability, from confusion to confidence and from 171 to 152 in the rankings. If numbers speak, quality speaks louder, Constantine’s achievements: Loudest.
Winning over all these hurdles, with no real setup to support, Stephen has done laudable work in his term and deserves a second run at the hot-seat. Does the AIFF thinks similar? We’ll have to wait and see.
