There was a lot of hype around Hamza Chowdhury and what he brings to the table. Could 185th-ranked Bangladesh upset India? Or was the fear unfounded and India, with all their ISL riches, could hold off Chowdhury and win comfortably?
The truth is, India were acutely disappointing. Just bad. Awful. No intent, no passion, no rigour. The national team played like a 5th division Kolkata para side with absolutely no vision or pride. For a show like this, you don’t need a national team. Any side made of 11 players could play like this. Kick the ball without purpose, and just somehow get through 90 minutes.
Bangladesh could have scored in the opening seconds after one of several dozy mistakes from Vishal Kaith in goal. But he wasn’t the only one who looked like he’d come out half-asleep. This was a qualifying match for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. But if you saw the players’ intensity, or lack of it, it might as well have been a Sunday-park kickabout.
Understandably, Manolo Marquez was furious. He ought to be. Such rubbish is surely going to ruin his reputation, and he has to take a hard call. Is this a side he wants to associate with going forward? Or should he just say enough is enough, and move on?
The truth is that Vision 2047, hoardings of which were all over the stadium, is just an eyewash. There is no plan and no process. Where’s the vision in this Vision 2047? Talk that we will get Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) players at some point, and that things will change for the better?
With the ISL, each one of these players earns serious money. Let’s be clear. There is no grudging that. But with money and fame comes responsibility. Unless you deliver, questions will be asked. Are they truly worth the money, or is it just that we don’t have others worthy of all the riches?
The truth is, if you are a supporter of Indian football, you must brace yourself for a lot of pain. That’s what the next decade will bring. Unless there is a fundamental overhaul, and chances of that are minimal, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Even Bangladesh go home with their heads high, and they are currently a team below Maldives and Nepal in the rankings.
That’s how bad India are. For Kalyan Chaubey and his team, it is time for some serious thought. What have they actually done to make a difference? What’s the way ahead? What’s the roadmap? Where is the hope and optimism?
Frankly, it is time to stop this rant, for I can’t find a single answer to any of these questions.