Subrata Pal believes India’s forward line is in good hands
ISL
Former India goalkeeper Subrata Pal has stated that the Indian football team has some very good strikers to take the team to a good place during international matches. Pal also stated that Indian football needs more work at the grassroots level to develop the sport in the country.
The Indian team will play the first international game since the exit from the AFC Asian Cup in the upcoming King’s Cup in Thailand. The tournament will be the first assignment for the newly-appointed coach Igor Stimac as well and the Indian team will definitely want to do well against the Caribbean team Curacao in June.
Speaking the Indian team, former India international Subrata Pal said that the team can back on the current players forwards for next four to five years.
"Sunil will be there for a few more years and Jeje is also young. We can also count on Balwant. So for the coming four to five years we can count on these boys," Pal told IANS.
"There are two-three good strikers in the Indian Arrows team that took part in this year's I-league. One of them is Rahul KP who is very promising.”
Pal also stressed on the importance of the development of the sport at the grassroots to make it better in the country in the coming future.
"We have to work more at the grassroots level. We have to spot good talents when they are young, and groom them,” Pal explained.
"Sunil took time to become Sunil Chhetri. Same with Bhaichung or Jeje for that matter. You have to give them time.”
In the Indian Super League (ISL) and I League, most of the clubs depend on the foreign strikers to score for them and the Indian footballers don’t get a lot of chance to do the same. Pal didn’t find them at fault but at the same time said that they have to give more chances to the Indian players as well.
"Clubs are spending so much money, hence they want to win tournaments. I will not say they are at fault. But what I will say is that we have to give Indian strikers more opportunities," Pal concluded.
