By Sahil Kohli
Fukuoka [Japan], July 15 (ANI): Former Indian footballer and present FC Goa youth coach Israil Gurung stated that earlier than aiming for FIFA World Cup, Team India ought to purpose at turning into a constant presence on Asian Cup stage and in addition urged all stakeholders concerned to ‘preserve particular person ego apart’ for the betterment of sport within the nation.
Israil spoke to ANI in Fukuoka, Japan, the place his group 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 a few respectively, are representing the nation’s flag in Japan.
Despite all of the work accomplished by personal entities and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), a qualification to FIFA WC appears to be like like a distant dream, contemplating that Team India shouldn’t be a daily Asian Cup presence, having not certified for 2027 version. India has participated solely in 5 editions of the match, with the final one again in 2023. Except for a runners-up end of their debut again in 1964, group’s different campaigns have been group stage exits.
Speaking to ANI, Israil stated, ‘If you ask me actually, that is the query that folks begin to elevate, individuals begin to shout each after 4 years. But what sort of work we do? Now, as quickly as this World Cup will get over, for the subsequent 4 years, are we able to work in a sure, in a constructive approach? This is my huge query.’
‘I’m not frightened concerning the World Cup, you realize. I wish to see India taking part in on the Asian stage constantly. And additionally, the saddest half is now, earlier than India used to dominate among the many SAFF groups arms down. But now, when you can see, we began struggling. There is one thing unsuitable occurring, you realize.’
‘So, I really feel like, you realize, retaining people’ ego apart, this can come collectively. Look for the betterment of the soccer. I feel that’s the saddest half, that it’s going very sluggish,’ he signed off.
Their latest outcomes towards different Asian/smaller groups like Maldives, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Singapore and so forth 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 general outcomes have 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 sport. The ISL’s newest season ultimately kicked off in February this 12 months.
This 12 months, 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 submit in 2024 and Manolo Marquez, famed for his exploits in Indian Super League (ISL), additionally leaving the submit after being one 12 months in cost final 12 months. In August final 12 months, Khalid Jamil was appointed as males’s nationwide group coach. (ANI)