Following the Indian U-23 football team’s valiant run in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, head coach Naushad Moosa sat down with RevSportz to discuss the team’s impressive performance and what lies ahead for the young players. Despite narrowly missing out on qualification, nine players from the squad have been called up to the senior team’s camp. In this exclusive interview, Moosa spoke candidly about his fearless coaching philosophy, the heartbreaking end to the campaign, and the critical need for Indian coaches to build on recent momentum.
Nine players from your U-23 squad have been called up for the senior team’s camp under coach Khalid Jamil. What are your thoughts on their selection, and do you believe they have the potential to make the final squad?
Moosa: It’s a great thing that these young players are getting an opportunity to train with the senior team. It’s always nice to see youngsters being promoted. I believe if they get a chance, they can perform well. Their selection shows how well they performed in Qatar. Now, it’s up to them to make an impact and prove their worth to the team.
Over the past few years, Indian teams have often adopted a defensive approach against top Asian sides. However, your U-23 team showed incredible grit and a fearless, attacking style. What was the backstory behind this?
Moosa: The message from the very beginning was to play fearlessly, especially against top opponents like Qatar and Bahrain. The approach was simple: we don’t sit back and we don’t get scared. It’s very important to believe in ourselves and have an attacking mindset. We respect our opponents, but our goal is to make an impact that makes them scared of us. That approach really helped us, and the way the boys performed was fearless. I always tell them, “Never be scared of losing.”
The team’s campaign ended on a heartbreaking note after the Brunei game, as India’s fate depended on the result of the Bahrain vs Qatar match. What was your message to the boys after that final, crushing moment?
Moosa: Our biggest mistake was waiting for other results. Our target was to score at least 14 goals against Brunei to improve our goal average, but we failed to do so. That was something in our hands. After the match, we all sat together in the hotel and watched the Bahrain-Qatar game. We were all praying, and when Qatar equalised in the 90th minute, we lost hope. That’s football, and it’s a valuable learning moment for the boys. They now understand how important it is to work on small details and not rely on others. My only regret is that we missed an opportunity to get more games at this final stage to prepare for the Asian Games.
You have a young squad, with players who are born in 2005-06. What’s your next plan for them, and what initiatives should the AIFF take?
Moosa: My aim is to meet with the AIFF to discuss a future plan for this team. It’s crucial that we get more camps and, most importantly, more friendlies against strong opponents. I don’t mind losing; that’s how we improve and understand where we stand. Playing strong opponents really helped our performance in the Asian Cup qualifiers.
A number of these young players will be playing in the ISL. What is your message to them about their club choices and game time?
Moosa: It’s very important that these youngsters are smart and choose their teams wisely. They should prioritise playing time over big money. Just taking up a big club for a high salary and then sitting on the bench won’t help them develop. They should be hungry in training and look for clubs where they can play and perform, even if it’s in the I-League. That’s the only way they will grow and be ready for the national team.
We are seeing a new chapter for Indian coaches with your and Khalid Jamil’s recent appointments. Do you think more Indian coaches will get bigger responsibilities?
Moosa: I would be happy to see more Indian coaches come in. We need to be consistent to show our potential. If we maintain these results, it will prove that Indian coaches are capable. I don’t want to compare Indian and foreign coaches, because a coach is a coach. But it’s true that we understand the mentality and behaviour of our players better. Given the opportunity, we can certainly deliver results.
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