Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: The former international footballer Renedy Singh feels football in India gaining its popularity once again. In an interaction with the Sentinel he also shares his opinion on different other issues. Here is the excerpt.
The Sentinel(TS): Do you feel football is regaining its popularity in India?
Renedy: Yes. Lot of works has been done and new plans are injected to develop the football in the country and I feel it makes some positive impact in the game and also in the mind of soccer lovers.
The Sentinel(TS): How is new national coach Igor Stimac playing his role?
Renedy: Stimac is a good coach. He is trying to bring some changes in Indian football. Let’s give him some time.
The Sentinel(TS): Have you noticed any positive changes in Indian football?
Renedy: I think fitness level of players is gradually increasing. If you witness our team’s performance in the World Cup Qualifier you would notice that they have started to move much faster now. However we need to muster over tactical moves. Players are still not fully aware how to change from plan ‘A’ to plan ‘B’ according to the situation of the game but it is very essential when you will face he big teams.
The Sentinel(TS): Your one time teammate Sunil Chhetri is still number one striker of India. How will you rate his career?
Renedy: Oh! He is a great player and nice to see that he is still in the game. I know him for a long period and I have no hesitation to say that Sunil is very dedicated and focused to his job from the very early days of his career. These are the keys of his success
The Sentinel(TS): Except Sunil there is no second striker in the national team who can score regularly. Is it not a worried factor?
Renedy: I agree. But players are not responsible for it. Our young strikers are not getting enough exposure which can make them mature.ISL is now one of the top league in the country. But if you go through the league you will see that most of the strikers of participating clubs are from abroad. Our own players hardly get chance to play in that position. So I think we need to work on that area.