New Delhi: Because of “practical reasons”, Igor Stimac will stay on as the Indian football team’s head coach for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June despite the AIFF’s technical committee recommending his removal immediately.
Confidence on the Croat’s ability to drive the team to the third round of qualifiers, as promised by him, is at an all time low at the All India Football Federation after India’s away draw and home loss over two legs to Afghanistan.
But thinking that bringing in a new man at such a short notice before the matches on June 6 (Kuwait, home) and Qatar (June 11, away) and demanding instant results might not be wise, coupled with the huge severance package involved (Rs 7-8 crore for Stimac and his two support staff), prevented the AIFF from taking the extreme step.
Thus the federation has constituted a five-member panel chaired by its vice president NA Harris, and including technical committee’s chairman IM Vijayan and member Climax Lawrence, to deliberate with the Croat coach on salvaging the situation as India still have hopes of a third round entry for the first time.
The equation being fairly simple of a win against Kuwait in Kolkata, the AIFF will organise a three-week camp, as demanded by Stimac, once the ongoing club season concludes in April to give maximise that possibility.
“AIFF is forced to give Stimac time till June as it hands are tied because of practical reasons,” an AIFF insider told News9 Sports on Friday.
“Whatever slim chance we have will go away if we bring in a new guy at this time as he would need time to adjust which we don’t have. It is too big a call to be taken right now when the need of the hour is to resurrect the situation rather than going for wholesale changes.”
Player power has crippled the team but should India beat Kuwait to advance, then a lot of new names could be expected.
But for the June matches, not much change would be made as after investing four-five years in the current lot, bringing in fresh faces for the crucial ties could be counter productive.
“Any new player or coach will need at least two-three months to adjust to the demands and adapt to the situation. By that time the June matches will be upon us,” he pointed out.
The newly-formed committee will hold discussions with the coach within a week and seek clarification regarding his recent comments of leaving the job if they don’t beat Kuwait, despite having a contract till June 2026.
“Though his salary is on the higher side, money is not the only determinant factor here. We are equally concerned about the slide in rankings after the loss,” an executive committee member said, adding that he personally wanted a change straightaway.
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