SPORTS LIBRO FOOTBALL- FOOTBALL NEWS:
INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE:
The third edition of the Hero Indian Super League is set to end this weekend, as on Sunday the first season of Indian Super League finalist Kerala Blasters FC and Atletico de Kolkata will fight again for the Hero Indian Super League 2016 trophy.
ISL: Stephen Constantine – If you don't improve by playing under Coppell and Habas, then it's your problem https://t.co/0197mZwzoF pic.twitter.com/kTdQYGVEyN
— Goal India (@Goal_India) December 16, 2016
But most importantly the Indian Super League is for the development of Indian football and India national team head coach Stephen Constantine has already earmarked a few Indian players who have impressed in the tournament.
As in recent interview the English man Stephen Constantine, who is currently managing the Indian National Football team admitted that most of the Indian players are doing well in the ongoing league, but he also opined that playing with players likes Florent Malouda or being coached like Steve Coppell or Antonio Habas is bound to improve a player and If they are not improving by playing under Coppell and Habas, then it's their problem.
As in a recent conversation with the GOAL, the 54-year-old English man, Stephen Constantine said,
*Have you been able to spot any significant Indian talent in the ISL?
Yeah, there are some Indian players who have done better than others and have impressed us.
*So we will be seeing new faces in your next national camp?
I cannot guarantee an immediate selection for them into our next national camp. Our next camp is in March and the players who have caught my eye need continue their good work in the I-League as well. I will be monitoring them and if they can play the same way they did in the ISL, then you need to keep an eye on the next selection list.
But I reiterate, their selection would be on whether they are able to build on the good work in the forthcoming I-League – simple because, our next national team match is in March 2017.
*Can you name them?
I do not want to name players some four months prior to a call up, that too for the national camp. Anything can happen between now and then and it would even be unfair on the players to name them at the moment.
*How has the ISL been beneficial to Indian players?
There is no reason why the players won’t benefit especially with the quality of coaches who are coaching in the League. It just can’t be that you play under a Steve Coppell or a Habas and not improve. If you still cannot learn from them and improve on your play, then it’s your problem.
Also, playing with people like Florent Malouda, who for me has been an absolute exemplary example of what we really need in India, you are bound to improve on your football exploits. That a player of his calibre is still doing the business on the pitch says it all. That is what we all want to see from the foreign players.