‘ISL Clubs have responsibility but are they given importance in building a policy for national football team?’ FC Goa CEO
Sudeep Pakrashi: Ravi Puskar has been the Chief Executive Officer of FC Goa since 2023. Previously he was the club’s Vice-President (Strategy) and headed the post of Director of Football in FC Goa from 2019 till 2023. But these are not his real identity. A student of sports journalism and communication from Staffordshire, Ravi Puskar knows about Indian football just like the palm of his hand! Along with all the updated information on ISL, Ravi is also perfectly on-the-toes about the I-League, its teams, coaches, footballers, and the growth of the game standard. In the context of the senior national team’s disastrous performance in the ongoing Asian Cup qualifiers, Ravi spoke to Parallel Sports on a few important issues that have turned out to be major obstructions to the improvement of the national team’s performance. Here are the excerpts: The responsibility of ISL clubs in the build-up of a competitive national team: Ravi: Yes, ISL clubs have a responsibility to help the building of a competitive national team. For that, the ISL clubs need to have state-of-the-art academies so that footballers of international standard can be developed in the future. ISL clubs need to have a common philosophy on the issue. But I can say all the ISL clubs are not following the philosophy. Contribution of ISL in the last 11 years: Ravi: ISL is a league. It is supposed to be a catalyst for the construction of a competitive national team. But how could be ISL held responsible for the senior national team’s failure? ISL does not build up a team. ISL does not choose a national coach. ISL does not decide on the preparatory model and schedule for the national probables. So, how can you blame ISL? The quality match-time potential Indian footballers get in ISL: Ravi: Brison Fernandez received the best-emerging player’s award in the ISL last season. He obtained 1006 minutes of match-time in the ISL last season. Then I can mention Hrithik Tiwary was in the senior national team as the fourth goalkeeper. He also obtained quality match-time. So, it is not that the potential Indian footballers do not get quality match-time in the ISL. The AIFF’s role: Ravi: You are asking about ISL clubs’ responsibility to build up a competitive national team. But what role AIFF has been playing? The entire money for the football is being spent by the clubs. But can you say how many times the AIFF has asked ISL clubs to have a thorough discussion to build up a unanimous policy on the national football team? They have never discussed it with us. They never communicate with the clubs. They make decisions and make policies sitting in the Football House. They need to understand the ground reality. The scouting players from I-League: Ravi: Yes, I agree that the chief national coach should also watch I-League matches along with the ISL. But I can confirm that Manolo Marquez was updated with the footballers playing even in the Second Division I-League! But has anyone from the AIFF selection committee or anyone from the secretariat discussed the matter? I do not think so. Salary Cap in the ISL: Ravi: There is a salary cap in the ISL. However, some of the ISL clubs do not follow the guidelines and rope in an Indian footballer against an astronomical amount which the footballer does not deserve. It has been the trend in ISL and we all have been forced to be involved in this rat-race. This trend has made even mediocre Indian footballers over-priced and while playing for the national team his attitude is changing. He does not seem to be inspired to deliver his best for the nation. So you have to think with a long-term concrete project and you must have the clubs beside you to build up a policy for the national football. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the national team to bounce back.
GFA president slams AIFF Deputy General Secretary for the senior national team’s disastrous performance!
Caitano Jose Fernandez, the president of the Goa Football Association has slammed the Deputy General Secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) M. Satyanaraya after the senior national team’s deteriorating results, particularly after the senior national team’s loss to Hong Kong in the ongoing Asian Cup qualifiers. The GFA president in his letter has categorically mentioned that much of the blame has to be put on the administration headed by the Deputy Secretary General Mr. M Satyanarayana, whose handling of crucial matters has severely damaged Indian football since he joined AIFF in August 2023. Fernandez also mentioned that the tenure of Satyanarayana can be marked by scandalous decisions, administrative failures, and political maneuvering which has made the governance unstable and guided national teams to carry with declining performance. In his letter to the AIFF president, vice-president, and executive committee members, Fernandez has categorically pointed out the allegations which are as follows: Failure in National Team Development and Political Manipulation: Satyanarayana has headed the National Team department since August 2023, yet his poor leadership, political interference, and mediocrity have resulted in ‘national team decline, reduced financial support from the Government of India, and stakeholders’ distrust. His divisive politics extends beyond Member Associations, disrupting AIFF staff operations and hindering long-term national football growth. ‘The alarming decline of the National Team performance across all age groups and genders including the Senior Team must be introspected and someone at the tip needs to be made accountable for this mess. ‘Our ranking has fallen at an alarming pace and it is not wrong to say that Indian football has fallen backward in the last three years. Disruptive Influence: AIFF has witnessed two Secretary Generals depart in two years- Shaji Prabhakaran and Mr Anil Kumar. In both instances, Satyanarayana played an instrumental role in their removal. Unconstitutional Suspension of I-League Relegation: The Appeal committee halted I-League relegation, an action beyond its jurisdiction. Body As per AIFF statutes, only the League committee, Executive committee, or General authority over such policy decisions. AIFF secretariat’s mismanagement and questionable governance approach pose serious threats to football administration, requiring urgent corrective action. Interference in League Committee Decisions: The AIFF Appeal Committee’s decision on 31st May 2025 overturned the AIFF League Committee’s ruling of 15th February regarding foreign football player replacement by Inter Kashi. The League committee’s decision had already been approved by the AIFF Executive yet the Appeal committee, influenced by the AIFF secretariat, disregarded governance protocol. I seek immediate investigation on this matter to find out the official statement submitted Secretariat to the AIFF Disciplinary Committee and Appeal Committees. Legal contradictions and Risk of Institutional Embarrassment: AIFF Secretariat allowed the registration of the player in question by adhering to ‘the direction of the League committee, and now stands against its prior approval. As we understand this is challenged before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Beginning of senior team building should start with potential youth; ISL clubs should take initiative also says Naushad Moosa
Sudeep Pakrashi: In the context of the senior national football team’s disappointing performance in the Asian Cup qualifiers, national Under-23 coach Naushad Moosa believes the rebuilding of a competitive senior national team should begin with identifying potential Indian footballers. “One of the key problems in Indian youth football is that potential footballers are not getting quality match-time after joining ISL teams. For example, Suhail Bhat, wearing MBSG shirts in the ISL last season obtained only 140 minutes of match-time which is far from a requirement. They are the footballers of the next generation who will represent India and if they do not get enough match-time, you cannot expect them to compete in the international tournaments against stronger teams,” said Moosa. Simultaneously, the assistant coach of NorthEast United FC pointed out an important opinion saying, “The country’s premier clubs should also take initiative for the revival of the national team. I cannot say about other ISL teams, but NorthEast United FC always tries to promote young Indian footballers. For example, Macarton Nickson was our reserve-team footballer, but going through his potential in the training he was brought into the senior team for training within six months and he participated in 20 matches in the ISL last season. Then I can talk about Samte. He was also promoted to the senior team after we noticed his performance in the training.” Moosa also had advice for the country’s potential footballers not to jump to the ISL teams even after being offered by the ISL teams. “The young Indian players should be smart. They should not think only about money. Rather they should think about how many matches they will get to lay in the new team.” While commenting on the building of the national team, Moosa pointed out an important issue that the chief national coach should watch I-League matches also before calling up the problems in the senior national camp as most of the Indian footballers take part. “That is why I will be watching the Durand Cup and then the I-League after returning from Tajikistan after playing two preparatory matches. Before the next phase of preparation it will help me to call up probables,” opined Moosa. Moosa will be happy if any guideline is created and followed in future where at least three promising Indian youth footballers have to be fielded in a match.
