Houghton livid after Indian players forced to play IFA shield

New Delhi: India coach Bob Houghton was today livid that the national team players had to fly down to Kolkata to play for their respective clubs in the IFA Shield on the next morning after defending Nehru Cup title here.National team players from Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Churchill Brothers and Mahindra United had left for Kolkata early this morning and Houghton said it reflects poorly on the professionalism of Indian football.

"I was told this morning that some players are taking early morning flight for Kolkata to play in the IFA Shield. They had just played in a tough international tournament and they would be playing in a domestic tournament next day. I could not understand and asked (Alberto Colaco) is that serious," Houghton told reporters here today. When told such things have been happening, he said, "It seems so. Professional people don`t do like this." The Englishman, under whom India have won two Nehru Cups and an AFC Challenge Cup last year, wondered why state associations were in the decision-making process of running a professional league in the country. "I don`t know any other country where state associations are involved in running professional league. The professional league in India should be run by the AIFF only and the states should work on the youth and grassroot developments," said the coach at the announcement of softdrinks giants Coca Cola`s sponsorship of national sub-junior (Under-16) championships. Asked which one of the three titles India won under his charge he thinks the best, Houghton picked AFC Challenge Cup victory last year. "The AFC Challenge Cup win was the most important as we qualified for the Asian Cup. The important thing is we are continuing with our success. The boys are a committed lot and we have to continue with the good work.” "The big challenge is to maintain this and instill belief that we can compete with the best in Asia. That is the challenge before the 2011 AFC Asian Cup," he added. On the possibility of any young faces coming into the national side in 2011 Asian Cup, Houghton said, "It is a dynamic game. If these (current) boys continue to maintain their form they will be there. If others are also performing well we will be happy to welcome them. "There was only one change in our first XI in yesterday`s final from the one in the 2007 tournament so these boys are maitaining themselves fit and working hard.” "We have won 15 matches -- against five draws and five losses -- in the 25 matches we have played since the start of 2007 Nehru Cup.” Houghton said some of the senior national team players could be rested for the SAFF Cup, most likely to be held in Dhaka in Bangladesh from December 1 to 15. "I think we should send a team without some senior players. We can send players like Arindam Bhattacharya, Rakesh Masih, N Mohanraj, Clifford Miranda and rest Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri and some others." Bureau Report