BENGALURU: With just about a week to go for the India-Iran 2018 World Cup qualifier, who better than Iran’s Jamshed Nassiri to talk of the game in both countries.
Nassiri came to India after having represented his nation at the 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship. Along with the famed duo of Majid Baksar and Khabazi, he joined East Bengal in 1980-81. Nassiri later turned out for Mohammedan Sporting from 1982-84, before returning to the yellow and gold in 1985. In fact, Nassiri’s piledriver from 30 yards out to give East Bengal a 1-0 victory over Mohun Bagan in the 1985 Federation Cup final in Bengaluru is still fresh in memory.
Once he hung up his boots, Nassiri took to coaching and has made Kolkata his home. He managed Bengal Mumbai FC from 1998 to 2001, and then Mohammedan Sporting in 2003. He is also the only foreigner to coach a state team, Maharashtra, to victory in the Santosh Trophy (1999-2000).
Jamshed feels that the most important factor is the absence of monitoring of young players and lack of exposure to players in India, as compared to Iran. “Back home, they follow a talented boy. From the U-14 to senior levels, the club and the national team coaches know how he is faring. Help is provided at all stages. That is completely absent in India,” Jamshed told Express from Kolkata.
“Also, many players in Iran play for a team in Asia before embarking on European missions. They become more acceptable. But Indians tend to head for Europe without trying out bigger Asian clubs. If they play in Japan or Korea, they will become better. Their chances of getting into European teams will be much higher. Consequently, they can contribute better to the national team, which has some talented boys. Without proper exposure, they can do little,” surmised the 56-year-old.
“There is no point in comparing India with Iran. The approach to football development is vastly different in both nations and the FIFA rankings are ample proof.”
“There is a reservoir of talent waiting to be tapped, but they don’t have opportunities. That’s the biggest drawback. I’m working with the Star Sports Young Heroes campaign to unearth talent. I’ve gone round the country and was involved with the Arsenal schools project earlier. I can tell you, there is a lot of talent but without proper avenues to grow,” he concluded.