Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia feels ‘sorry’ for Khalid Jamil, who took the lead over the national football team at a time when the sport is going through a difficult phase in the country and said that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) preferred him because he would probably not make too many demands.
Jamil, who replaced Spaniard Manolo Marquez, was the first Indian in 13 years to be appointed as head coach of the senior national team. He signed a two -year contract, with an option to expand another year.
«We have two world -class coaches (Igor Stimac and Manolo Marquez) who leave … If these two coaches could not work with the federation, then you bring people who will listen and do what the federation says …», Bhutia said PTI Videos After the exhibition match of the Fidel Castro Centenary Football Cup.
«I think Jamil fits into a domestic coach because he is quite new for the team. I also feel sorry for him, because he takes the lead over the team when it is in a very difficult situation,» he added.
Jamil was chosen for Stephen Constantine and Stefan Tarkovic.
Bhutia focuses on Aiff President Kalyan Chaubey and said: “For Kalyan he (Jamil) is the right man because Indian coaches do not demand much.
Related: Khalid Jamil who is in charge of the India football team until 2027, parts ways with jamshedpur fc
At the same time, he says that there are financial problems, and today the federation has gone in such a bad situation that we have no money to pay the coaches.
Chaubey had recently admitted that club football «is going through a crisis» because of the uncertainty around the Indian Super League, while the situation is attributed to «some self-contained reformers with established interests».
Indian football in a mess
Bhutia has also expressed concern about the handling of administrative matters by the federation.
“When the Supreme Court appointed the ad hoc committee to run the Federation for the U-17 World Cup World Cup U-17, the Federation should have asked the SC if we can run it, or we should have a new body.
«That three -year delay clashed with the MRA rights that took over. That timing could have been tackled much more before they came to this stage. They should have went to the SC and asked. I said this to find out if this body could continue, which they did not deliberately,» Bhutia added.
Bhutia has also expressed concern about the treatment of administrative matters by the federation at a time when the top flight of India in the football of men is suspended. | Photocredit: PTI
Bhutia has also expressed concern about the treatment of administrative matters by the federation at a time when the top flight of India in the football of men is suspended. | Photocredit: PTI
India participates in the Cafa Nations Cup 2025, from August 29 in Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan.
«It’s also a great tournament and good for the Indian team, but as I said that (Indian) football is in a mess. You should have been sitting with the ISL, FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) and the new coach and then accepted the call,» Bhutia said.
“And when you start playing this tournament, and suddenly you try to play the Super Cup and ISL. How does that work? I think it will be a total mess.
«If IL arrives tomorrow and says we are going to play, then you won’t play any of the best players for the club,» he added.
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