By Sahil Kohli
Fukuoka [Japan], July 16 (ANI): Former Indian footballer and Bengaluru FC youth coach Renedy Singh confused on growing a ‘fooballing tradition’ throughout the nation to re-establish themselves as Asian energy in soccer and ultimately ebook their first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification.
Renedy spoke to ANI in Fukuoka, Japan, the place his workforce has gone for Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) publicity tour.
RFDL publicity tour to Japan is from July 11-23, beneath which high three Indian golf equipment from RFDL season 2025-26 are competing towards their top-level J-League counterparts. Bengaluru FC, FC Goa and Punjab FC, occupying positions one to 3 respectively, are representing the nation’s flag in Japan.
Speaking to ANI about how India, which didn’t qualify for 2027 Asian Cup and has by no means made it to the World Cup, may make strides in soccer world, Renedy stated, ‘For that, now we have to create a footballing tradition first. How many faculties have a soccer floor? We have to create a soccer tradition first, then the remainder will observe by itself.’
Despite all of the work achieved by non-public entities and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), a qualification to FIFA WC seems like a distant dream, contemplating that Team India shouldn’t be an everyday Asian Cup presence, having not certified for 2027 version. India has participated solely in 5 editions of the event, with the final one again in 2023. Except for a runners-up end of their debut again in 1964, workforce’s different campaigns have been group stage exits.
Their current outcomes towards different Asian/smaller groups like Maldives, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Singapore and many others have additionally been weak. In 2024, India failed to purchase themselves a win for 11 straight matches, with India breaking the streak with a 3-0 win over Maldives again in March 2025. In 2025, India did handle three wins in 11 matches and a CAFA Nations Cup bronze, however total outcomes had been nonetheless removed from spectacular. The uncertainty over begin of Indian Super League (ISL), which initially didn’t discover any takers, troubled the footballers’ livelihood and recreation. The ISL’s newest season ultimately kicked off in February this yr.
This yr, India began off with a win over Hong Kong, however confronted defeats to Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Tajikistan of their coming matches.
The extremely inconsistent run of outcomes have seen fast altering of coaches, with Igor Stimac leaving the publish in 2024 and Manolo Marquez, famed for his exploits in Indian Super League (ISL), additionally leaving the publish after being one yr in cost final yr. In August final yr, Khalid Jamil was appointed as males’s nationwide workforce coach.
After a 3-2 win over Giravantz Kitakyushu of their first match of the RFDL publicity tour to Japan, Bengaluru FC will probably be taking part in Sagan Tosu under-18 aspect on Friday. The workforce had a coaching session on Thursday earlier than the sport.
On gearing up for the following problem, Renedy, who performed for India from 1998-2012, stated that Japanese groups are a troublesome opponent and it was a ‘nice take a look at’ to safe a win and that too whereas getting back from a deficit.
‘Thanks to RFDL for creating this platform to showcase our abilities. As everyone knows, now we have performed towards Japan on the under-19 aspect and senior aspect. They have been a troublesome opponent. We at all times wrestle towards them. So it was an excellent take a look at for us to return right here and play our first match,’ he stated.
‘Yes, it was 3-2 that we received, but it surely was a troublesome one. We are going to face a troublesome opponent… We have to organize properly. Today, we had an excellent session, and tomorrow we are going to give our greatest. We will struggle it out, and let’s have a look at the way it goes,’ he signed off. (ANI)