Indian FOOTball – Jamil is insisting on clubs, AIFF to solve the problem about releasing players via ‘Dialogue’

The Indian men’s team head coach Khalid Jamil insisted on Thursday at the clubs and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to find a solution that balances «club and national obligations» by «constructive dialogue» after 14 players of Three Indian Super League (ISL) silk have been delayed at the National Camp.

Jamil had mentioned 30 likes for the preparatory camp before the crucial Asian Cup qualifying round matches of India against Singapore on October 9 (Weg) and October 14 (at home).

But 14 players, including Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri, still have to be released by their clubs, while one player is not available due to illness.

Three players – Brandon Fernandes, Asheer Akhtar and Farukh Choudhary – have been added, which bring the current group to 18. They have been training in Bengaluru since 20 September.

Jamil admitted that having enough players, especially in defense, has influenced the team training. Until now, only two defenders – HmingThanmawia Ralte and Asheer Akhtar – have joined the camp.

«Our preparations are always team -oriented, not dependent on individuals. Yet the absence of players in some positions naturally influences the training,» said Jamil, who took the lead last month to PTI.

«Some players will participate in phases and we work to make the best of the available sources. In the long term, I think it is important to work together to find a solution that balances the club and national obligations,» he added.

Apart from Bengaluru FC, East Bengal and Punjab FC, the other clubs that have delayed the release of their players are delayed. The 14 players would become a member of the camp by the end of this month.

The 48-year-old Jamil intentionally excluded players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa, given their involvement in the AFC Champions League Two campaign.

Mohun Bagan will face Sepahan SC from Iran on 30 September, while Goa plays FC Istiklol by Tajikistan on 1 October.

“With Mohun Bagan and FC Goa, the situation was clear from the start because they had important continental luminaires. We respect it completely and planned accordingly.

«In the future we hope to maintain a similar clarity with all clubs. After all, it is a team game, and if we have so much clarity, we would know which players they should plan with,» said Jamil, a former India International and former head coach of Northast United and Jamshedpur FC.

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Jamil started his stint as an India coach on a positive note and led the team to third place in the Cafa Nations Cup in Tadjikistan earlier this month in the first performance of the country in the tournament.

The Focus is now shifting to two crucial group C matches of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Asian Cup Third round qualifications-a double header against Singapore on October 9 (in Singapore) and October 14 (in Goa).

Jamil underlined the importance of the next two games against Singapore.

«We are fully aware of the meaning of these two games. Positive results can give us a strong momentum in our qualifying campaign, while setbacks would make the path much more difficult,» Jamil said.

India, currently with a point from two games (0-0 versus Bangladesh and 0-1 vs Hong Kong), will try to improve his position in group C, with only the winner that is eligible for AFC Asian Cup 2027.

Singapore, the current group leader, is on four points of so many competitions.

Published on September 25, 2025