Football coaching standard in India is not good, believes Osvaldo Ardiles

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been running different workshops for the coaches and the support staff associated with the game in India. The Indian junior and women national teams are coached by Indian coaches as well but still, there is a lot to be achieved by the Federation as far as football coaching is concerned. 

Former Argentina midfielder Osvaldo Ardiles, who is in India right now, has advised the Indian coaches to improve their coaching. He also stressed on the importance of having good coaches in the football academies to improve the sport in the country.

"Please coach the coaches. The coaching standard of India is also not good. If you don't have good coaches in the academies, you can't produce good footballers on a regular basis,” Ardiles told TOI.

Ardiles, however, has said that India has a good talent pool but need an improvement in the technical aspect of the game. With many comparing the standards of the sport in India to that of European and South American countries, the former Tottenham player also mentioned that the sporting culture of the regions are different and the footballing standards can’t be compared.

"It is totally wrong to compare them. For European footballers the sport is there with them since childhood so they have been seeing the game and playing it at early stages," the former international explained.

"I have been in India for four days and I am quietly impressed with the skill sets few of them. Their skill level is right up there but I think physically and technically, they are weak.”