Houghton eyeing for a World Cup qualification for India

New Delhi, Feb 6: National coach Bob Houghton hopes that the AFC Cup victory and the 2011 Asian Cup qualifying win would provide the Indian football a much-needed boost and help the team to qualify for the World Cup.
"I hope it works as a catalyst for further strides ahead as that’s what I like to think. Ok winning the AFC Cup and qualifying for the Asia Cup was a big success and the boys played and got along very well."
"But what’s really required now is the victory to act as further incentive for the players to work hard and get fitter to be better players and for the players coming behind to recognise it," Houghton told the aiff.com in an interview.
He said the team needs to work hard and get organised for achieving some great achievements.
"If we can prepare and importantly prepare properly and give a good account for ourselves with best clubs and best teams in Asia, it will raise the portfolio of the game and give us some belief that somewhere down the lane we can qualify for the World Cup," the coach stressed.
When asked about the state of the Indian football from the time he took over the role of the coach, Houghton said, "We have made some progress if you compare it from some years ago. We were 163 and now we are 142 in FIFA rankings and we have advanced in Asian circuit as well and we have moved from 27 to 20."
"We have qualified for the Asian Cup finals. Though we recently lost to Hong Kong but that was our second defeat in 17-18 matches."
"So I think we have made progress with the senior team. And also we have made some good progress with the junior teams." He added that there are a few big challenges ahead which the team need to overcome.
"There is one big challenge in January 2011 when we play in the Asian Cup finals. In between, we need to get the team well prepared as we can."
{But, of course, now we have I League, Federation Cup and then we have AFC Cup for the Clubs that’s Dempo and Mohun Bagan," he asserted.
He further admitted that the Indian players are making a mark at the international arena by getting a chance to appear for trials in foreign club.
"Yeah it is definitely making its mark and it won’t be long before the first one goes and does well and then many more will follow. When I went to China in 1998, there were no Chinese players playing outside of China and after eight years there were seven or eight that played in Premiership; so once Clubs become aware that there are good Indian players then they will take more of them," he grinned.
The coach was also quick to add that there are few skillful players who can replace the seniors after their retirments.
"Sunil would be around as he is young. This is the job of all coaches to coach the team in a way that new ones can replace the old ones so of course that’s what we are doing. But for sure we will be working hard with the U-19 team, the Olympic team which is U-21 that will provide some base to them."
"I am watching a lot of youngsters on regular basis and I know all the youngsters now playing in the I League. If they keep on playing well then they will be there in the team irrespective of what their age is."
"If the team keeps doing well then we might go into the 2011 Asian Cup finals with the same squad and at the same time it is for the younger ones to push themselves for the reckoning and if they get a chance then they have to capitalise on it and perform." (Agencies)