Wim Koevermans vs Bob Houghton: A comparative analysis

So where’s the BIG difference?

Koevermans has stressed the importance of playing international friendlies regularly to get used to the worldwide trend of not having a long camp before a match. During Houghton’s tenure though, besides the year leading up to the 2011 Asian Cup, India hardly played one-off friendlies and when they did, the results weren’t great.

The Englishman was always keen on long exposure camps abroad but more importantly demanded better facilities for the national team’s preparations. This was something first seen during Stephen Constantine’s reign but completely taken forward by Houghton and it changed the mentality of Indian players as the better facilities, foreign tours gave them an added motivation to play for the national team and created better understanding and team unity which was vital in winning the AFC Challenge Cup to qualify for the Asian Cup.

Bob Houghton ensured the national team had adequate preparation before any big tournament

Under Houghton, India took a big step in international football by improving among the developing and emerging nations of Asia. The Englishman was well placed to take India to the next level in the continent with a new young group of players emerging from his recommended ‘Indian Arrows’ project. But Houghton’s departure was untimely and pushed backed the development of the national team.

His successor Armando Colaco wasn’t given much time, while the national team reached a new low under Savio Medeira by crashing out of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup group stage.

Ever since Koevermans took over, he faced the task of once again rebuilding India’s status among Asia’s developing and emerging nations with a team in transition, as all Houghton’s hard work was undone in the 18 months following his exit.

So going to the next level was always going to be a near impossible task, yet unlike Houghton, Koevermans is willing to play one off friendlies against stronger teams regularly and hasn’t even had one exposure tour abroad to train under top class facilities.

The Indian federation’s financial problems will not even allow the former Holland international to play friendlies on a regular basis with just three such matches so far in 13 months. So a result like the one against Tajikistan last week shouldn’t be much of a shock.

Verdict

Hougthon’s contribution to Indian football can never be undermined as he brought India back among Asia’s elite after almost three decades and with more time could have possibly improved the national team further.

Koevermans has inherited a team in transition

But it would be unfair to not give Koevermans some more time especially considering that he hasn’t done much worse than the Englishman.

The Indian national team currently is work a progress with half of the current squad not even having 10 international appearances. Having said that, success in next month’s SAFF Championship is mandatory for Koevermans despite the improvements of teams like Maldives and Afghanistan.

Even currently on paper, India have the quality to retain the regional title and if that is achieved Koevermans should be given a new contract. If not, question marks about Koevermans’ future as India coach will grow further.