October 13, 2004

Stephen Constantine, who was speaking at the Amara Hotel as he prepared his men for their World Cup qualifier Asian Zone Group 3 clash against Singapore, at the Jalan Besar Stadium admits he is unhappy & the India coach blames national football body for meddling in team affairs after Japan defeat.

He claimed he has not been given free rein in team selection & he is frustrated.

Following India's 7-0 defeat against Japan in a pre-World Cup qualifying match in June, the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) made a controversial decision to appoint a panel of national team selectors to help Constantine pick his squad & this move angered Constantine.

After that he said his love affair with Indian football is all but over.

He said it is a joke as like any other professional football coach, he will not stand for any kind of interference. He pick his own players & live & die by his own judgments & decision

The 42-year-old Englishman, who holds a Uefa Pro Licence Diploma, the highest football coaching qualification in the world dropped all the players picked by AIFF selectors for this squad.

Clearly displeased with his actions, the AIFF announced last month that they will conduct a review of the coach's future, after India conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign in November.

Constantine is contracted to the AIFF till June next year.

On the review the Englishman defended his record saying the past 2 1/2 years since he was appointed, results have been better than anyone ever expected from an Indian team but after the defeat against Japan, suddenly there were questions on whether he is picking the right players.

Indeed, since Constantine took over the reins in 2002, Indian football has enjoyed good success as just months after taking over, India won the LG Cup in Vietnam. Last year, they came in third in the South Asian Federation Cup (the equivalent of the Tiger Cup), clinched a silver medal in the Afro-Asian Games & bagged another silver medal in the South Asian Federation Games (the equivalent of the SEA Games).

That is why he is angry the AIFF have decided to take a huge step backwards by interfering with his work & he is not looking to extend his contract so if any offer that will benefit his career comes along, even now, he will give it serious thought.

On a different topic the Indian coach said Indian football has stood still & Singapore had also not progress because of lack of youth development

He note the youth in India & Singapore do not get proper training till about 16 while in Japan, an 18-year-old would already be technically, tactically & physically ready to play in the first team so it is not enough & too late