Sukhvinder Singh, former stopper for Punjab Police, JCT Mills, Punjab and India, coached an Indian under-23 team to victory in the South Asian Federation Football (SAFF) Cup recently. This victory is all the more creditable since all the other participating countries had fielded their senior teams in the tournament. Sukhvinder was coach of the Indian senior team when it produced good results in 1999 and 2000 but he was subsequently sacked by the AIFF following defeat to Pakistan in an exhibition series. Excerpts from an interview…
How is it to coach the under-23 team?
It is always an honour to coach the national team, even if it is the under-23 team. I have taken the assignment as both a challenge and an opportunity.
What made the AIFF recall you as coach after it discarded you in 2004?
I believe Bob Houghton, the chief coach of the senior team, was impressed with what I was doing with the JCT team in the I-League and other tournaments. The AIFF went by his recommendation. And I would never refuse a national assignment.
Did you have enough time to prepare the team for the SAFF Cup?
Yes, we had a productive camp for about 15 days in Goa, where the boys trained hard. The final result in the SAFF Cup speaks of their hard work.
Did you expect to win the tournament with Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh fielding their senior teams?
Frankly, playing well matters more than results. If you play well, more often than not, the results will be in your favour. I had a good set of boys and many of them had the experience of playing at the senior level. We had a good chance to win the tournament… and we did.
You have a role to play in the preparation of the Indian team for the SAF Games and Asian Games in 2010. How do you expect the team to perform?
Obviously, we must work harder to maintain our position as the No 1 team in South Asia. Most of the playing positions are adequately served, but we need better bench strength so that there are no problems in case of injuries or other reasons. The Asian Games will be the real test for there will be many good teams in the fray and it is difficult to say anything at this stage. All I can say is that there will be no change in our approach and our determination to do well.
Have you submitted any plans to the AIFF regarding preparations?
Yes, I have spoken to the AIFF and will discuss things with Bob Houghton and include his suggestions.
What about foreign exposure trips?
That depends on what the AIFF can manage. This is the year of the World Cup and the major football-playing nations are busy with their preparations. We will take it as it comes.
Has the standard of football in the I-League improved?
In club football, if you can spend big money, you can sign on big names. If your budget is limited, you have to make the best of the players you buy. In that sense, playing standards have remained the same as most clubs have been hit by the recession. Nonetheless, there are some good players around.
In 2000, India defeated UAE in the World Cup qualifiers when you were the chief coach. You said that playing with foreign footballers in the NFL had helped our boys a lot. Do you feel the I-League serves a similar purpose?
Yes, foreign players in the I-League have ensured that our boys raise their level. Their presence has definitely contributed to Indian football.
What lies ahead for Indian football?
I am very optimistic. In due course, more will be heard of the national team.
Coach’s corner
Sukhvinder Singh
Date of birth: 07-06-1949
Place of birth: Fatehpur Khurd
Qualifications: Diploma in football coaching from National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala Coaches’ coaching course held at New Delhi in 1987, under TG Tranter (FA coach) from England, FIFA football coaching course held
at Kolkata in 1988 under coach Tauplack of Yugoslavia.
Achievements:
2001: AFC Coach of the Month
1986: Appointed as coach of Indian sub-junior (under-16) team
1988, 1989 & 1990: Coach of Indian junior (under-19) team
1990 & 1991: Assistant coach to national coach Joseph Galie of Hungary
1999-2002: Chief coach of Indian senior team
1975-1977: Represented India as part of the national Team