CAFA Nations Cup success was ‘significant’ for the future of Indian football says Mahesh
Sudeep Pakrashi: Mahesh Gawli, the former Indian international who has been serving as an assistant coach for the senior national team for the last three years, says winning a bronze medal in the recently concluded CAFA Nations Cup was a significant milestone, looking forward to the future of Indian football. Defying the recent trend of notions about Sunil Chhetri’s indispensability in the senior national team, it became possible for Khalid Jamil’s India to acquire a bronze medal in the CAFA Nations Cup. Gawli while speaking on a WhatsApp call from Hisor, Tajikistan, explained, “Sunil Chhetri is a legend. His contribution to the senior national team is undeniable. Even his strike-rate and performance in the last ISL cannot be ignored also. Still, it could be possible for the young brigade to finish with a bronze in the CAFA Nations Cup without Sunil’s presence. Looking forward to the future of Indian national team’s progress, it was a big gain for the senior national team that a few of the youngsters came up.” The youngsters like Irfan Yadwad, Danish Farooq Bhat, Nikhil Prabhu, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Udanta Singh Kumam drew the attention of the football fraternity in CAFA Nations Cup. Senior national team ended 2024 with consecutive 11-match defeats and they also lost to Hong Kong in a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier and drew with Malaysia early this year. The senior national team have the only victory against Maldives in an international friendly early this year. So, winning a bronze medal in the CAFA Nations Cup was Khalid Jamil’s maiden assignment, and Mahesh Gawli, when asked about Khalid’s key strength in coaching, explained, “Every coach has their own style of guiding the boys. Khalid has also his own style. But my observation says Khalid has been able to transmit the self-belief among the footballers. That was the reason they could show the courage and determination against higher-ranked Oman also.” Mahesh had also mentioned Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s name stating, “He has set example of dedication and grit. He was not with the senior national team. But after return, he was so disciplined and hard-working that should inspire the youngsters.”
