A RevSportz Exclusive
Mahesh Gawli, former player and now the assistant coach, has served the Indian men’s national football team for a long time. He made his international debut in the pre-Olympic qualifier in 1999 and was an integral part of the team till 2011. He was an important member of the Indian team that won the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008. Apart from this, Gawli won the SAFF Championship and the Nehru Cup, both twice. In his club career, he won multiple I-League trophies with Dempo and lifted the National Football League and the historic ASEAN Cup for East Bengal.
With years of experience as a player, Gawli is now Igor Stimac’s assistant with the national side. In this exclusive conversation, he offered his perspective on both of India’s FIFA World Cup qualifying matches so far, and how his experience of being a part of a squad that nearly made history in 2001 has influenced his coaching. He has also spoke about the junior players in the team and the role of the leadership group.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Rohan: Two matches played in the World Cup qualifiers. An important away win in Kuwait which will boost India’s confidence for the coming matches, Asian Cup and the next qualifiers. How do you analyse these two matches?
Gawli: Yes, definitely! The win against Kuwait in Kuwait has taken the confidence to the next level and the mentality of the players is not the same – it has gone far beyond. These two matches against Kuwait and, especially, Qatar have given us the picture, how we have to approach the Asian Cup and the remaining World Cup qualifying matches.
Rohan: The Qatar match, as coach Stimac said, was not a match the team was focused on getting a win but was to find answers for the Asian Cup squad. Would you like to add something more on that from the coaching team’s perspective?
Gawli: The players who were there in the WCQ are representing the nation. They all fight for position and they all are very good players for our country. It’s not that we were not focused, we were. Yes, as the coach said, we wanted to find some answers for the Asian Cup, where we have to face the top teams in our group.
Rohan: From the Qatar match, what are the points that you have ticked, from the answers that the coaching team was looking for? What are the improvements to be made?
Gawli: As you can see, there is lot of improvement in the team. We have grown our level to the next one, we have a style of play, we create goal-scoring chances. Point to be ticked off –we must minimise our errors. We need to be sharper and more precise in our individual abilities.
Rohan: Now going back to your story, you were an integral part of the 2002 WCQ squad that won that historic match vs UAE and were close on making it to the next round. You also played the 2011 match in which India defeated Qatar. Do these experiences help you as a coach now? Did that experience help ahead of these two matches as a coach? How do you look back at those matches? A player then, and now a coach.
Gawli: I am very honoured to have been part of that team in the 2002 Qualifiers. It was a great team. Every match is a new experience. There are lot of changes in modern football, new technology and lots of facilities have come up, which we couldn’t get. As a player, I had the opportunity but unluckily missed out. But now, as a coach, luckily, I have got the opportunity to be part of this WCQ 2026 and try and go to the next round.
Rohan: Thoughts on the youngsters in the team? Naorem Mahesh, Suresh, Chhangte and others.
Gawli: Sahal, Liston, Naorem Mahesh, Suresh, Chhangte, Apuia, Akash, Anwar and Jeakson are very good young talented players in the team. They have lot of potential and the ability to become the country’s best players and examples for the youngsters. Their quality in the team brings a lot of difference. If they keep on working hard as they are doing, we will definitely achieve what we want.
Rohan: Sunil Chhetri is the senior-most player in the squad and his efforts chasing the ball in the Qatar match were phenomenal. The chance that Anirudhh Thapa got came from a pressure like that from Chhetri. We talk about his importance on the ground, but please give us a sense of Chhetri on the training ground. What is he like at a camp? Training ground, team meetings, team dinner, mingling with the juniors and all. What drives him to be this fit at this age?
Gawli: Sunil is a great example for all the players. Both on and off the pitch, he is very dedicated with his work. Very much focused in training, never takes things easy. His commitment is one hundred percent in training, and he always gives his best. Mingling with the players and motivating the players, he is the first to step up. He is very professional and takes care of himself very well to be fit.
Rohan: What is it like working with Coach Stimac? What are the changes that he has brought to the team? Do you see any change in the mentality of the players in recent times in approaching the game?
Gawli: Working under Coach Stimac is a big privilege for me. He is a good human first and then a coach. I am gaining knowledge and learning a lot from him. His work ethic towards the team is phenomenal.
Changes in the players mentality and approaching the game? There is no question! You can see it in the players when they are on the field in every match they play. There is lot of confidence in the players, and they are fearless against any opponent. He is a very demanding coach, and wants everything to be in the right place.
Rohan: Luka Radman decided to stay back for the Kuwait game even after that tragedy in his family. This shows commitment towards his job. How is the chemistry among the coaching team?
Gawli: Lots of respect for his commitment. He is a great person and very dedicated towards his work. He brings a lot of energy in the team. We all are on the same page and very supportive of each other. The team chemistry is excellent.
Rohan: What are the plans when it comes to preparations for the Asian Cup?
Gawli: We will start our AFC Asian Cup preparations in January. As you know, we will get very little time to prepare but we will do our best to put up a good show.
Rohan: A word on the support you received in Bhubaneswar, and even the away fans in Kuwait.
Gawli: Tremendous support at both the places! I thank all the fans for the support. We need such support in future. Supporters bring lots of energy to the players. They play a big role in getting results.
Rohan: Thank You so much for your time!