Latest news with #StephenConstantine
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
HT Kick Off: What numbers do not reveal
Apart from offering a crash course on the role and duty of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) president, last Friday's media conference went big on numbers to highlight what has changed since September 2022 and what has not. Since data is the new oil, this deserves praise. It pointed out how India's goals scored per match has gone down while goals conceded has remained nearly the same even though there have been three head coaches between 2015 and now. AIFF's slick presentation detailed the strikers chosen by Stephen Constantine, Igor Stimac and Manolo Marquez to embellish the point that all three had picked the best available. Accepting that there are not enough Indian strikers, president Kalyan Chaubey spoke about the need for discussions to a problem that predates Indian Super League (ISL). (In 20 seasons of I-League, including when it was India's top tier competition, there have been only two editions where an Indian was among the top scorers.) The AIFF president's suggestion to reduce the number of foreigners though could hit Indian clubs at a time the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has lifted restrictions on imported players in continental competitions. It also comes over two years after Stimac had spoken of the need to restrict the position of strikers and attacking midfielders to Indians only. But, like with the data on the men's team, numbers do not always tell the tale. For instance, highlighting organising 1697 matches in a single season means little if the men's national under-23 team barely plays – proof of what can be achieved if they played more came in Tajikistan needing two stoppage-time goals to win against a 10-man India – the top tier of the women's league has only 14 matches, the under-17 I-League can be won by playing 15-16 matches, the men's game at the elite level stretches to around 30 matches and the off-season is as long as the season. In nearly three decades of national leagues, AIFF has not been able to grow the season. For comparison consider this: Hong Kong's league ran from August 30, 2024 to May 25, 2025. Also, how does a 232% increase in grassroots leagues in two seasons from 2019-20 compensate for the lack of an AIFF pathway between the under-17 and the men's leagues? The 631% increase in the number of coaching courses from 2017-20 to 2022-25 is commendable because, as AIFF says in its presentation, 'If a federation can develop good coaches, the good coaches can create excellent players.' Including futsal and beach soccer, India has 16,596 coaches with some kind of AFC badge, AIFF has said but did not mention how many of them have found gainful employment. While the performance of the young girls and boys at AIFF's training programmes need to be applauded – uner-15 boys have defeated a number of ISL under-17 teams and the Indian Arrows Women Juniors have beaten clubs with older players in IWL2 – it would have been nice if an update was provided on the new elite youth league AIFF said it would start with funds saved from the successful boys' Arrows project that was scrapped by this regime in September 2022. Taking nothing away from the performance of the boys and girls, is it also not a reflection of how seriously clubs take youth development because the season is so short? Information that ₹2333 crore being invested by state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland was a welcome development in a country desperately in need for investment in infrastructure. Given that Inter Kashi still cannot find a venue in Uttar Pradesh, who, as per AIFF, are committed to investing ₹1005 crore, they can call home, it would have been nice if timelines of the projects were provided. Also welcome was AIFF's ₹14.70 crore surplus at a time when the agreement with commercial partners is months from ending. Here too, context is important and it would have been nice if AIFF had said how much it has saved on salaries by not appointing long-term coaches for most of its national teams. AIFF being committed to get naturalised players too is a sign that it is in step with time. Chaubey spoke of 33 players with whom AIFF was in touch. Good news, but wouldn't it have been great if details about their clubs and playing positions been provided along with the explanation of how they got on the shortlist?
Arab News
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Pakistan ready to ‘fight' in Asian Cup football qualifier against Myanmar today
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's national football team is determined to fight to win in their crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying clash against Myanmar today, Wednesday, head coach Stephen Constantine said, as the side looks to build on the momentum of last year's improved performances. Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Yangon a day earlier, the Pakistani coach acknowledged the challenges facing his squad but remained upbeat about their preparation and intent. 'For Pakistan, all of the games are difficult,' he said, according to a statement circulated by the Pakistan Football Federation. 'But we have a good group of players. They have worked hard over the last few days and we will come here to try to win the game.' Pakistan, who lost 2-0 to Syria in their opening Group E match, have shown signs of progress in recent international fixtures, including a spirited display in that match and a stronger showing overall in 2024 compared to previous years. Constantine highlighted the importance of continuing that upward trajectory. 'We played quite well against Syria despite the result,' he said. 'Every single game you play for Pakistan is important, even friendlies.' Myanmar, who won their last match, will have home advantage at Yangon's Thuwunna Stadium and are widely seen as favorites. But the Pakistani coach said his team remained focused and undeterred. 'They will be favorites for this game,' he said. 'But we will fight like we do in every game and we will try to get the result that we want, which is to win. We didn't come here to lose.' Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST) today.
Arab News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Pakistan to face off Myanmar in AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will face off Myanmar on Tuesday to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup tournament, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said on Sunday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The Pakistan team arrived in Yangon via private airline flight on Sunday, according to the PFF. They will train in Yangon on Monday. 'The match between Pakistan and Myanmar will be held at Thuwana Stadium,' it said. 'It will start at 3:30 PM according to Pakistani time.' Pakistan have been training under the supervision of head coach Stephen Constantine in hopes of bouncing back from a 2-0 defeat to Syria in the campaign opener back in March. Pakistan are placed in Group E alongside Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Sports Ministry may rethink rule on OCI card holders
New Delhi: The Sports Ministry may resume allowing Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders to represent India in select disciplines. The move can help football where it has long been felt that OCI card holders can at least be a short-term fix for the national team. Tapping into the diaspora is practised by many football federations of which Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines are some examples. Ranked 123rd, Indonesia are in the third round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the surge in their performance attributed to a number of players who were born in Netherlands. In April 2024, Indonesia were ranked 134 and below India. Eighteen of the 23-player Philippines squad for the 2023 Women's World Cup were born in the USA. Since 2023, players born in Finland, Scotland, Argentina, Spain and Brazil have represented Malaysia's men's national team. That explains why calls to use OCI and PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) players in the national team has got louder over the years with former national coaches Stephen Constantine and Igor Stimac urging the government to have a rethink. In 2023, All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it had set up a task force to do a feasibility study on PIOs. It is not clear what came out of it. In tennis too, India have lacked depth for a long time. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has done little to groom talent. A sports ministry official said on Thursday there was no harm in relooking at the 2008 policy that allowed only Indian citizens to represent the country. 'If allowing OCI participation boosts the national team especially in disciplines like football, tennis, or any other discipline, then why not? It can be only for sports where Indians are not doing well,' said the official requesting anonymity given the sensitive nature of the issue. India does not permit dual citizenship. But in the absence of guidelines, a number of OCI card holders have represented India even as the issue came up in courts of the country. Prakash Amritraj was in India's Davis Cup team and US-born tennis player Shikha Oberoi has been part of the national team. In 2008, then sports minister MS Gill introduced a policy that allowed only Indian citizens to represent the country. Which meant Izumi Arata, an Indian-Japanese who had been playing club football in India since 2006, could represent the national football team only after taking Indian citizenship in 2013. BCCI, corporates promise support for Olympic sport Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met over 50 corporate houses on Thursday and spoke about the need to come forward to support Olympic sport. Officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were also present. 'There were 58 corporates in the meeting and they are very keen on supporting Olympic disciplines. BCCI too is interested in adopting two to three Olympic disciplines in the Olympic Centres of Excellence, the sports ministry is aiming to start this year,' an official said. The sports ministry's ambitious plan is to upgrade facilities of SAI, National Centres of Excellence into world class Olympic centres, focussing on one sport in one centre. 'We want to start with 50-55 athletes in such centres. There will be one corporate house backing one centre and top class facilities will be provided to train athletes.'
Arab News
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Pakistan football team to travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow for AFC Asian Cup qualifier camp
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's national football team will travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow, Thursday, where they will resume training for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier fixture against Syria, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said in a statement. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Pakistan will kick off their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign against Syria on Mar. 25 at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The green shirts concluded their training session in the eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday night, the PFF said. "The team is set to depart for Saudi Arabia tomorrow night, where they will continue their training under the guidance of Head Coach Stephen Constantine," the PFF said. Earlier this month, Pakistan reappointed Constantine, who previously served as the country's head coach from late 2023 until mid-2024, as head coach for the Syria fixture. Pakistan's inclusion in the qualifier was made possible after the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) lifted its international suspension against the country earlier this month. FIFA hit Pakistan on Feb. 6 with a third international suspension in less than eight years after the federation rejected its electoral reforms. Following the suspension, the PFF unanimously approved FIFA's proposed constitutional amendments in an extraordinary meeting in Lahore this month. Pakistan are placed in Group E of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers alongside Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar. PAKISTAN PROBABLES Goalkeepers: Yousuf Butt, Saqib Hanif, Abdul Basit and Adam Khan Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Haseeb Khan, Junaid Shah, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Fazal, Abdul Rehman and Waqar Ihtisam Midfielders: Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Uzair, Ali Zafar, Muhammad Umar Hayat, Rahis Nabi, Toqeer ul Hassan, Umair Ali and Moin Ahmed Forwards: Fareedullah, Harun Hamid, Imran Kayani, Mckeal Abdullah, Abdul Samad, Shayak Dost and Muhammad Adeel Younas
