Constantine changes tune on ISL; praises the quality of coaching and platform for players
AS THE THIRD edition of the ISL draws near, Stephen Constantine has seemingly stepped away from his long-held skepticism of the private tournament.
The national team head coach has more than once spoken out against ISL; whose dense fixtures, he said, do not allow players' bodies enough time to heal, and lead to fitness and injury issues that affect even the national team. The British coach has also been repeatedly frustrated due to the ISL schedule forcing the national team to either miss out on useful international windows, or cut short preparations for important games. Recently, a planned exposure tour to the United States was cancelled altogether after ISL franchises opposed it, saying it clashes with their pre-season.
But today, speaking to the ISL official website, he had some good things to say about the competition. Addressing the Indian players participating, he said that having so many good quality foreign players in the squad is itself a golden opportunity up for grabs.
"The positive impact has been the sharing of experience from the foreign recruits, or may I call it the knowledge transfer. So many foreign recruits who have played at much higher levels are coming to India to play in the ISL. They are here to share their experience and do it in a positive manner," said Constantine.
In the two and half month long tournament, there is ample that Indian players can learn from their much experienced team mates. The foreign players come from footballing systems that focus on the development of all aspects of the game from physical to mental. Starting early is the key for a development of a player, which lacks in India where players get professional grooming only until they are nearing the end of their teenage. The quota of including two under 23 players, too, is a well thought step toward exposing the young talent to get a feel to a high level tournament.
"It’s now up to the Indian player to grasp as much as possible from them. It is an unique opportunity and one needs to make the most of it. You won’t get such a chance everyday... it’s so significant that we have some very good coaches who are coaching in the ISL. A player can improve only when he trains under a quality coach."
The ISL franchises are not just building a squad with the best foreign players but do understand that adding an appropriate player-turned-manager is of utmost importance to set the team sailing in the right direction,
"The ISL is providing the opportunity to the Indian player, I expect them to approach it positively, be inquisitive and learn as much as possible to add expertise and more value to the Indian player and Indian football as a whole. I would expect my players to interact and learn as much as possible. There is no substitute to learning."
The Indian national team is going up against some tough opponents in the Asian Cup Qualifiers from March onwards, and Constantine would be hoping that his players would make the most of the upcoming ISL to prepare themselves for that challenge.
Meanwhile, Constantine's own current contract with the Blue Tigers is about to expire in February, and there have been rumours that the bigwigs of Indian football are not too happy with him over his critical comments about the ISL in the past. It is even believed that Ashley Westwood is all set to replace him as the India gaffer. Which means that despite the on-field success and positive structural changes he introduced in the national team, Constantine is under pressure to prove himself (even at a time when the national team has no match to play for the rest of the year, thanks to ISL).
