Nothing could be more humiliating than losing 1-2 to Guam in the football World Cup qualifiers. Guam, which last played the WC qualifiers in 2000 and were thrashed 19-0 and 16-0 by Iran and Tajikistan respectively, has a population just 1.6 lakhs or to put it in perspective, Goa is ten times more populated than Guam and Malad, a suburb of Mumbai where I reside, is five times larger than that country!
The AIFF may take a leaf out of Guam’s book and call a temporary moratorium on ‘internationals’, while it does some serious introspection. One significant feature of the Guam team is that 75% of the players are US-based. We need to hone our skills, playing alongside and rubbing shoulders with the best in the business. The ISL may provide some hope.
Prof Robert Castellino, Mumbai
