Stephen Constantine Back to Wake Up 'Sleeping Giant' India
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New Delhi: Stephen Constantine has first hand knowledge of how
difficult it is to wake up India from its soccer slumber but the Englishman
insists he can make a difference at his second attempt or he would not have
accepted the offer.
India rank a
dismal 147 in the latest rankings, reflecting soccer's struggle for growth in
the cricket-obsessed nation and prompting FIFA president Sepp Blatter to term
the country a "sleeping giant".
Since then, FIFA
has partnered the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to develop the game in
the country and the first edition of the franchise-based Indian Super League
proved a resounding success last year.
The AIFF has
brought back Constantine for a second stint with the national team after he
guided Rwanda to their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 64.
In an interview
with Reuters, the Briton explained what prompted him to return as the head
coach of a nation he first coached between 2002 and 2005.
"The belief I
could make a difference and that there was the willingness from the AIFF to
give me a free hand and allow me to do what I feel is needed," he said.
"I had
invested three years of my life in India and had enjoyed the time and working
with the Indian players."
Having renewed his
Indian ties, Constantine saw no reasons why he could not repeat his Rwanda
success and guide the world's second most populous nation back into the top 100
in FIFA rankings.
"If I didn't
think I could...wouldn't have taken up the job, 64th in the FIFA ladder is a
good place to be."
It remains a
mystery for many why a country of 1.2 billion, with a rich soccer history to
boot, has not featured in World Cups yet but Constantine has a theory.
"It's not a
riddle for me. The state associations don't do enough to develop the game and
the clubs don't do anywhere near what they should be doing in terms of the
development of youth.
"The club
licensing criteria need to be implemented to the full. You need to look at the
MLS (Major League Soccer) in the U.S. to see how with discipline and a vision you
can have success. We need to take footballing decisions."
Since he took
over, India beat Nepal earlier this month to progress to the second round of
the combined 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The draw for the
second round involving 40 teams takes place on Tuesday and the coach admitted
it would not be easy to finish among the top 12 who proceed to the next round.
"It's
difficult to say before the draw but whoever we get in our group, all the games
will be tough, especially after the last few years we have had, there are no
easy games for us."