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.