This time, he will be in the technical area opposite Thomas Christiansen, Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Forlan as India host Panama, Brazil and Uruguay, all in the top 50 of the FIFA rankings. Kolkata: Twenty-six years after he was a player on a tour of England with the senior men’s football team, Khalid Jamil will be part of another first.
Barring defender Ricky Haobam, who was injured and replaced by Mehtab Singh, all 26 in his original list have reported. Because their clubs skipped the Durand Cup, a number of them though did not have games in their legs. “It was a big move. This time, there are no such complaints, at least in terms of players being available. Jamil knew this would happen—national team coaches tend to depend on players they trust given that time is always at a premium for them—and had planned for it. “All the players I called are in good shape. I reached out to them one month before naming the squad stressing on the importance of staying fit. And we have got enough time in this camp. Match fitness is not up to the mark for some but that happens early in the season. Kumar would be fourth in the pecking order in a list that has Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill and Albino Gomes but his inclusion is part of the squad rebuild Jamil is attempting. He has left out regulars such as Sandesh Jhingan, Liston Colaco, Rahul Bheke and Jeakson Singh even though they have had more game time than many of the players he has called. “We are building a new, solid team. So, there will be some changes. I think this is the correct time to change.
Never thought we would be going to England with the national team,” said Jamil over a video call from Bengaluru. That showed when India played Jamaica and Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup this year, he said, referring to the full-circle moment of returning to England as head coach. As I have said earlier, players of this generation know how to look after themselves. And it is not like we will not call them again,” said Jamil, looking into the camera with his game face on. This process of rebuilding could continue through the away friendlies against New Zealand and, depending on the importance All India Football Federation accords to it, in the SAFF Championship both of which are in November, said Jamil.
