Khalid Jamil, the head coach of the Indian men’s football team, has requested the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to collaborate in order to resolve the problem of player release delays. The preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore have been interrupted, with 14 players of Bengaluru FC, East Bengal, and Punjab FC not joining the national camp yet. Which has been impacted by the lack of key players, particularly in defense.
Here’s what he has to say before the Asian Cup qualifiers 2025.
Khalid Jamil’s Call for Action
The Indian men’s football team is going through a tough time, as the head coach, Khalid Jamil, has made a bold statement and called for action from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to work collectively in solving the problem of delayed player releases.
Due to the ongoing miscommunication between the authorities, India’s preparation for the training camp ahead of the Asian Cup qualifiers has experienced a massive hit because 14 players from Bengaluru FC, East Bengal, and Punjab FC have still not yet joined the national training camp, including the star captain, Sunil Chhetri.
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Taking the matter seriously in hand, Khalid Jamil said that the players from Mohun Bagan Super Giants and FC Goa were not involved in the camp as they were active in the AFC Champions League Two campaign. He further continued saying, “Moving forward, we hope to maintain similar clarity with all clubs. It is, after all, a team game, and if we have such clarity, we would know which players to plan ahead with.”
The 48-year-old coach had originally named 30 players for the camp, but with the delayed release and injuries, the current camp has only 18 players, which has certainly limited the potential of the Indian football team. Training has already begun on September 20, but the lack of players in the camp, especially defenders, has hampered the training sessions. As of now, only two defenders, Hmingthanmawia Ralte and Asheer Akhtar, have joined the camp.
In spite of these, Khalid Jamil desires India to capitalize on its third-place performance at the CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan, as he stressed the importance of the two matches against Singapore in India’s qualification. The victories will provide the team with the momentum, whereas failures might complicate the progress process, respectively.
On the other hand, India currently has a point from two matches (0-0 vs Bangladesh and 0-1 vs Hong Kong) and is looking to improve its position in Group C, as the winner of the group is guaranteed a ticket for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
Amit Mishra’s Perspective
As a football enthusiast, it is saddening to see the current situation of the Indian men’s football team, especially the lack of communication between AIFF and ISL clubs, which has significantly impacted the training camp for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers. Ahead of the two vital third-round qualifiers of the Asian Cup 2027 on October 9 (away) and October 14 (home in Goa), the Indian men’s football team is in short supply of players after the delayed player releases.
With this, India is currently in the training camp with 18 players, which has certainly left the coach, Khalid Jamil, in a disappointing state, as his team lacks defenders. I hope the ongoing situation is solved as soon as possible, since it is significant for the team to carry the momentum they have built in the recently concluded CAFA Nations Cup.
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