After a heroic success at the Hero Inter-continental Cup 2023 and SAFF Championship 2023, the Men in Blue will be eyeing a more successful future. With King’s Cup (September) and Merdeka Cup (October) getting closer, the Blue Tigers will have a competitive preparation as a unit. Also, Durand Cup & Hero Indian Super League will ensure match fitness and game readiness of players. However, the national team head coach Igor Stimac is very keen to hold a month-long camp just before the commencement of the Asian Cup 2023, to be held in Qatar, in the month of January. But things are not as easy as they seem as there are multiple roadblocks in the way of Mr. Stimac’s manifestations.
The ISL is set to begin in September and conclude during the month of April. The clubs will have to release the players before the King’s Cup in Thailand just before the beginning of the Super League hampering the pre-season preparations at the club level and once during the Malaysian Merdeka Cup. The task of convincing the clubs & the league management for a 4-week camp is a task of great difficulty.
The AIFF General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran highlighted that it is nearly impossible to manage a month-long window for the camp. He added further that AIFF will try to do what’s in the best interest of the national team and the fitness of the players won’t be an issue as they will be taking part in the domestic competitions.
Whereas the Croatian coach has pointed towards the importance of a longer camp, on how it creates a favorable environment and hence helps in producing positive results. Also, he warned that the coaching staff and players would not be taking any responsibility for the results if they are not provided with a longer camp and how Indian players should change their bad habits of poor decision making needs to change and they should look out for opportunities abroad rather than staying in their comfort zone.
The 55-year-old expects a decision on the camp as soon as possible and can’t wait for the conversations to begin. Now only time can tell how much time the Blue Tigers get before the Asian Cup. All eyes are on the decision of the AIFF-FSDL league committee.
