New Delhi: East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick has set his priorities for the coming season stating that he cannot afford to have more than two to three national team players in his squad.
The Red and Gold’s have as many as six national team players with the likes of Sunil Chhetri, Surkumar Singh, Subrata Paul, Renedy Singh, Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Syed Nabi. The contracts of a few of them have come to an end this season and it looks unlikely that the fans would see some of their star players at East Bengal next season.
With national team coach Bob Houghton set to have the national team players for a period of two years or even eight months according to the Goal 2011 Project, many club coaches are looking to do away with the Indian internationals.
Speaking to Goal.com, Bhowmick said, "Some of the national players have given a statement that we wouldn’t agree to a pay cut. There’s no question of salary cut. In Europe, while on international duty the players are paid by the National Football Association and the weekly wages are cut by the clubs.
"The national team players shall give us service for some six months or so, so what we suggest is take the money equivalent to that time period. When they are on national duty, let them talk to the AIFF about the wages."
Subhash Bhowmick is one of the most respected coaches in India known especially for his glorious days at East Bengal where he guided them to several trophies. What Bhowmick is trying to stress that the national team players are or shall be away in the coming two seasons, which doesn’t help his cause as a coach of a reputed club.
"The national team players shall go for camp in late June and would return only about 10 days before the I-League. Where do I have the time to get the team combination right? I don’t know in what shape they would return having missed the pre-season with the club. This season, there were so many national team players and they joined before the I-League kicked-off. To get the right combination is a headache at least for me," said the experienced talisman.
He added that as an Indian he had a great respect for the national team and that it does well but as a club coach, he has to set his priorities as well.
"I have tremendous respect for the national team but I have to choose things which are congenial for my club as well. Why should I compromise? Do you think Mr. Alex Ferguson thinks about the England national team rather than Manchester United?" shot ‘Bhambhol’ as the fans refer him.
"Why should I take advice of others? If you don’t have six of your players in the pre-season, how do you prepare and expect to do well in the I-League? As a club coach, I have to think."
To avoid this dilemma the coach plans to have a young squad with whom he can work with throughout the season.
"I would want a young team which will give me 10 months or so to work with them."
It is believed that the coach has made his views known to some of the big names in Indian football on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Bhowmick rubbished reports of a pay-per-match contract for players like M.Suresh and Alvito D’Cunha.
"We either keep someone or not. This pay-per-match is rubbish."
More on Goal.com
Champions League comment: The stakes are high for all four clubsComment: Did Zoran deserve to win the best coach award?La Liga comment: Sevilla better, but Raul the best as Barcelona begin to worry
Comments
0 comment