Sudeep Pakrashi:
Mahesh Gawli, the senior national assistant coach who has been involved with the senior national team for the last three years believes that one goal will change the Indian national team’s recent depressing scenario.
The senior national team have been able to earn one win only in a friendly out of the seven overall they took part in after Manolo Marquez took charge of the senior national team in July last year.
The depression of the Indian football fraternity increased after the senior national team’s last 2-0 loss to Thailand in a friendly match.
Gawli still believes the team’s performance in the last couple of matches was not below satisfactory level. But they lacked only in converting opportunities. “We need the goal. One goal will change the scenario. We created more opportunities than Thailand in the match. But we lacked the finishing. Once it starts, the players will regain confidence. They will have a different body-language and deliver their best,” asserted Gawli while speaking to Parallel Sports from Hong Kong.
India and Hong Kong, China’s meeting on Matchday 2 of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round on June 10 is billed as the highest-stakes clash of Group C as they are the top two ranked sides in the four-team group, and are aiming for the first win of their campaign.
Placed in Pot 1 for the qualifiers, India, ranked 127th, got off to a slow start with a draw against Bangladesh in March. Meanwhile, Pot 2 side Hong Kong, ranked 153, could also only manage a point in Singapore.
For Hong Kong, June 10 will be a historic date. The game is not only a crucial qualifier in their search for only a second AFC Asian Cup berth in 59 years but also the inaugural football match at the 50,000 seater Kai Tak Stadium, part of the Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports complex in Hong Kong. The previous meeting in 2022 is still fresh in the memories of many — a 4-0 drubbing in a rain-lashed Asian Cup qualifier in Kolkata.
The 45-year-old former India international is aware of Hong Kong’s present strength. He explained, “After arriving here we watched Hong Kong’s one preparatory match against Nepal. The team have changed a lot compared to the approach and style we watched four years ago in Kolkata. Additionally, they have several foreign-born footballers and players who ply their trade in the Chinese Super League. But I do not feel it will be the key factor as our footballers are now accustomed to competing against quality foreigners in the ISL.”
Hong Kong’s squad also features many new naturalized and foreign-born players. Among them are forwards Juninho and Stefan Pereira, midfielder Fernando, and defender Dudu — all born in Brazil. Spain-born forward Manolo Bleda and Japan-born midfielder Sohgo Ichikawa also made their Hong Kong debuts recently.
Among the experienced lot are goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai, who has over a century of caps, defenders Sun Ming Him, Yue Tze Nam, and Tsui Wang Kit, all of whom ply their trade in the Chinese Super League, and midfielder Tan Chun Lok. The majority of the squad, however, plays their club football in the Hong Kong Premier League for Kitchee SC, Southern District, Lee Man FC, Eastern FC, and current champions Tai Po FC.
Meanwhile, it is believed that Manolo Marquez has planned to quit from chief national coach’s post after Tuesday match although the Spanish coach has not yet given any clear indication about his decision.
