Houghton shaping a new India

There is not much to celebrate for India’s soccer fans, but there was enough to be satisfied about Bob Houghton and his dedicated bunch who scripted an inspiring chapter in their quest to make an impact at the Asian level at least. In winning the AFC Challenger Cup at Delhi’s Ambedkar Stadium, India played to expectations, raising hopes of improvement in the times to come.

Houghton’s influence on the team was very visible. He had been slammed by some former players and coaches for the team’s loss to Maldives in the SAF Cup final in Colombo, but, showing remarkable restraint, Houghton stuck to his job, letting the players do the talking with their splendid performance in the AFC Cup.

The coach gave the team all the support it needed, and the players backed their coach by concentrating on winning the tournament. The progress was not smooth, but the championship was eventful enough to bind the players and the coach into a compact unit that knew its strengths and weaknesses very well. “It was a remarkable win,” gushed Houghton. He had described the triumph most aptly.

Baichung Bhutia led by example. His presence makes a world of difference to the players on the field. In tandem with Sunil Chettri, there were some glorious moments for Bhutia to cherish, especially the spectacular goal that he scored in the final from the top of the box. It was a goal that carried a strong message from the senior statesman of Indian football.

Houghton is a crafty reader of the game and he has gone about his job in the most professional manner. He has avoided confrontation with the seniors by astutely fielding horses for courses. He used even Bhutia sparingly. As a result, not many missed Deepak Mondal and Mahesh Gowli in the defence where Anwar Ali and Gouramangi Singh have emerged as the new pillars.

Houghton’s man management has been the most significant part of the Indian team’s build up towards the Asian Cup to be held in Qatar in 2011. The next three years may see changes in the team composition, but Houghton has set certain benchmarks and identified the men for the big league.

Chettri was the star of the show. Always a busy man when near the rival goal, this striker from Delhi rose to dizzy heights, slotting four of the last five goals that the team scored in the tournament. He produced the lone goal of the semifinal against Myanmar and then came up with three gems in the final against Tajikistan. “He is a remarkable player. So brave, so honest,” praised Houghton.

The motivation for Chettri is obviously Bhutia, who carries the team on his shoulders literally. “Much of the credit goes to Bob,” says Bhutia, who has stood behind the Englishman like a rock. Houghton’s brave methods and his faith in the team have transformed the way the squad plays now. Houghton has also scored a huge point by making the team believe in itself.

If Bhutia and Chettri made waves upfront, the team had a silent but unflappable man under the bar in Subrata Paul. “His consistency is amazing. He makes some great saves,” remarked Houghton about the lanky goalkeeper, who made an impression with his agility and anticipation. Paul was the greatest source of strength for the team as he emerged a fitting replacement for Sandip Nandy.

“The coach has changed our approach to the game now. We don’t have the fear of facing the opponents because he has given us such confidence,” Paul said of Houghton, the most popular man in India’s football fraternity today. Another proof of Houghton’s ability to get the best out of the players was the improved display of Climax Lawrence in the midfield. He was a tireless and unsung worker in the entire campaign.

“More hard work lies ahead,” said Houghton at the end of the tournament. The players, knowing well their responsibilities, are prepared too. Indian football, long languishing at the bottom, promises to look up in the near future, thanks essentially to the efficiency of Bob Houghton, a truly professional coach.