With just a little over a week remaining for India’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers against UAE, it would be interesting to see how the boys blend in to the guile and game plan of this experienced long-serving Dempo coach — Colaco. The Indian side that has landed in Doha, after settling for a 1-1 draw with a lowly-placed Maldives few days back, will play two friendlies — one with hosts Qatar on Sunday.
As per Colaco, both these friendlies are befitting before his side takes on UAE. “Qatar is a higher ranked team and plays with a style similar to that of the UAE. India have strong, friendly relationship with Qatar and it was great of them to provide us with this opportunity. What we are looking forward to is to get our tactics right,” said Colaco, who has been appointed coach for the next four months.
Even for the best of coaches in the world, a four-month period would do no good to get the desired result but Colaco cleared the air saying that it was not AIFF but his own decision to opt for a short term.
“I have prior commitments with my club Dempo as well and I will have sort that out if I have to continue. Yes, it has been just three weeks but I will try my level best to put my best foot forward,” revealed Colaco, who cracked his whip on senior pros — Baichung Bhutia and Rennedy Singh — soon after his appointment.
“I have nothing against Bhutia or Singh nor have I said they wouldn’t be considered at all. It was good on the part of Bhutia to come up with a statement that he will regain fitness. All I wanted was to have a set of players who are fit and deserving to be there.”
Colaco strongly believes in bringing in the youth early and has inducted six players. He has picked players such as Chirag United’s Lalkamal Bhowmick along with Raju Gaekwad and Jewel Raja of Indian Arrows, who have put up some strong performances in the I-League. “The only way these young boys can improve is by giving them exposure and the earlier we do it, the better. Yes, they lack in experience but this is the only way they can grow. I will try to give them opportunities in these friendlies but we are in the final stages of getting the right combination and I have to keep all that in mind as well,” justified Colaco.
UAE, currently 94th in the world rankings, played India (147th) last in a friendly in November 2010 and thrashed the latter 5-0. India had success against UAE, beating them 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in 2001.
“We have been watching the videos of UAE matches and after these friendlies, I’m sure we will be well prepared for that clash. Against Maldives, Climax, Jeje, Chhetri got chances but they didn’t score. They created so many chances and that was good. We held well and passed well. If they can do all these in a short span of time, I’m sure they can do wonders in the long run.”
Colaco is also looking forward to the historic and high profile three-match series against Pakistan in the UK. “It would be an interesting series and given the Indian and Pakistani population there, it would be an absorbing one. However, as of now, the focus is on the match against UAE,” concluded Colaco.