This is a battle that has been brewing in the background for a few months now and as much as I tried avoiding to report on Indian sports drama it has turned out to be impossible to ignore this topic. This is the end of the road for the Indian national football coach. From a reasonable point of view Bob Houghton did a good job as the head coach of Indian football, but that isn't good enough for the AIFF.
After being hired in 2006, Houghton guided the Indian team to winning the Nehru Cup in 2007 by beating Syria, a team that was ranked 40 spots higher than India in the FIFA rankings. In 2008, he led the team into winning the AFC Challenge Cup by beating Tajikistan in the finals. As a result of winning the AFC Challenge Cup, India got an automatic entry into the AFC Asia Cup, a feat that was achieved after 28 years. Under his tenure, India managed to win the 2009 Nehru Cup as well.
Here is a clip of India's 2011 Asia Cup goals:
There were some barely negative aspects of what happened under his tenure. India got trashed in the Asia Cup, something that was excepted considering that we were placed in the toughest group and pitted against Australia (ranked 2nd in the tourney), South Korea (ranked 3rd in the tourney), and Bahrain. There were many who criticized Houghton for sticking to his old Brigade of players rather than bringing in the young guns who would have brought speed and energy to the team. We'll never know if his instincts were correct, but I would like to think so after taking a look at his Resume.
His biggest mistake was that he butted his head against the all powerful, all corrupt, and all political: AIFF. That's what the word is in the Indian footballing world, for all I know the AIFF could be angels sent from heaven.
Houghton criticized the AIFF in public with out any reservations. He criticized them for their lack of vision and professionalism, he did it without any fear and regard for the consequences, so he is paying for it. The AIFF accused him of racism and is trashing his contract that technically should have continued until 2013. Link to an article on his racism allegations
Lets take a moment to say cheers to this man and thank him for the service he has provided for Indian Football. The Indian football fans and the national team will certainly miss his leadership.
P.S: I was told that creating the Indian Arrows was also his idea.
After being hired in 2006, Houghton guided the Indian team to winning the Nehru Cup in 2007 by beating Syria, a team that was ranked 40 spots higher than India in the FIFA rankings. In 2008, he led the team into winning the AFC Challenge Cup by beating Tajikistan in the finals. As a result of winning the AFC Challenge Cup, India got an automatic entry into the AFC Asia Cup, a feat that was achieved after 28 years. Under his tenure, India managed to win the 2009 Nehru Cup as well.
Here is a clip of India's 2011 Asia Cup goals:
There were some barely negative aspects of what happened under his tenure. India got trashed in the Asia Cup, something that was excepted considering that we were placed in the toughest group and pitted against Australia (ranked 2nd in the tourney), South Korea (ranked 3rd in the tourney), and Bahrain. There were many who criticized Houghton for sticking to his old Brigade of players rather than bringing in the young guns who would have brought speed and energy to the team. We'll never know if his instincts were correct, but I would like to think so after taking a look at his Resume.
His biggest mistake was that he butted his head against the all powerful, all corrupt, and all political: AIFF. That's what the word is in the Indian footballing world, for all I know the AIFF could be angels sent from heaven.
Houghton criticized the AIFF in public with out any reservations. He criticized them for their lack of vision and professionalism, he did it without any fear and regard for the consequences, so he is paying for it. The AIFF accused him of racism and is trashing his contract that technically should have continued until 2013. Link to an article on his racism allegations
Lets take a moment to say cheers to this man and thank him for the service he has provided for Indian Football. The Indian football fans and the national team will certainly miss his leadership.
P.S: I was told that creating the Indian Arrows was also his idea.
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