Indian football coach Stimac appeals to PM Modi, seeks permission to send Team India to Asian Games
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India head coach Igor Stimac on Monday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to represent the national football team in the upcoming Asian Games despite not meeting the selection criteria. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had planned that under Stimac’s guidance, the Under-23 team would participate in the Asian Games starting on 23 September.
The Indian football team, however, does not meet the Sports Ministry’s eligibility to be among the top eight teams, due to which it is likely to stay out of the continental competition. Stimac wrote in a long post on social media, ‘I would like to bring to your attention that our U-17 team of 2017, which performed brilliantly in the U-23 World Cup qualifiers and is a very talented team, is now denied representation in the Asian Games. Being deprived.’.
A humble appeal and sincere request to Honorable Prime Minister Sri @narendramodi ji and Hon. sports minister @ianuragthakurto kindly allow our football team to participate in the Asian games
We will fight for our nation’s pride and the flag!
Jai Hind!#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/wxGMY4o5TN— Igor Stimac (@stimac_igor) July 17, 2023
Apart from PM, appeal was also made to Sports Minister Anurag Thakur
Stimac wrote, ‘This team desperately needs to play in the tournament and it deserves it. The reasons given are unfair and being the coach of the Indian National Team, I feel it is important that this matter is immediately brought to the notice of you and Honorable Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. “So that you can intervene and help represent the team in the Asian Games,” he said. India is currently running at 18th position among Asian Football Confederation (AFC) countries.
Match can turn anytime in football
Croatian coach Stimac wrote, ‘Our own ministry is denying participation in terms of rankings while the fact is that our football team is on a better ranking than some of the other sports teams that were allowed to participate in the Asian Games. Is.’ He said, ‘History and statistics also bear witness to the fact that football is a game where the lower-ranked team has a chance to beat the top-ranked team.’ In a letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Sports Ministry has said, “For team events, only those sports should be considered for inclusion, which have gained international recognition among the participating countries in Asia.” Made it to the top eight in the last one year. From the year 2002, the under-23 football team participates in the Asian Games, while three players older than this are also allowed to be included in the team.
Huge investment in grooming great players
He said, ‘India hosted the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 and invested a lot in grooming the next generation of great players.’ Stimac said, “You have always supported India’s dream of playing in the FIFA World Cup one day and I am sure if the kind of support you have received so far continues, the day is not far when we Will participate in the most prestigious tournaments globally.
“As a national team, we have worked very hard in the last four years and have achieved some excellent results which prove that we can achieve much more if we have the support of all stakeholders,” he said. There is a provision in the instructions of the Sports Ministry sent to the NSFs which may give a ray of hope to the football team.
Modi had praised Mbappe fiercely during his visit to France
“If in the opinion of the experts of the specific sports and the Sports Authority of India, for appropriate reasons, the participation of individual sportspersons and teams is recommended with relaxation of the above criteria (exemption in the top eight), then the appropriate decision will be taken,” the ministry’s letter said. For this, the ministry will consider it. Modi had said only last week that French footballer Kylian Mbappe is a “superhit” among the youth in India and the World Cup-winning team player is probably known to more people in India than in France.
Stimac wrote, ‘Your speech about football and Mbappé in your recent visit to France impressed all Indians who dream and encourage Indian football.’ The coach concluded, “Therefore, on behalf of the entire Indian football fraternity, I have a humble appeal and sincere request to you, please allow our football team to participate in the Asian Games.”
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