India should first meet the Asian standards, says soccer coach

Vancouver, July 20 (UNI) Despite resources galore, India remains an under-achiever in soccer and newly appointed coach Bob Houghton feels his first job would be to raise the level to the Asian standard before thinking about the global stage.

The Englishman felt success in South Asian tournaments should not be taken too seriously and India should aim to emerge as an Asian major.

''To be ranked 130th is a major underachievement for a country of considerable resources,'' Houghton told The Vancouver Sun on the sidelines of the ongoing four-nation tourney here.

''You can only improve it. But I've only had these players for about a month, so it's tournaments like the Nations Cup that will help me decide what has to be done.

''The team has done well in South Asia, but that area comprises only a small number of soccer-playing countries. The challenge is to improve team play to the standard of Asia as a whole. That's a huge challenge. By and large, it's a young team that's eager to learn and works hard. That makes my job easier right off the bat,'' explained the 58-year-old coach.

Houghton wants to build a new Indian side and he described midfielder and captain S Venkatesh as the fulcrum of the side.

''He's got a lot of skill on the ball and is a good playmaker.

From what I've seen so far, he may be a player to build the team around,'' he said of the midfielder.

The Englishman is also hopeful of convincing Indian expatriates who have made a name playing soccer abroad and Michael Chopra tops the list despite reports that the Cardiff City striker has dismissed any such prospect.

''There are players of Indian origin playing in Europe, particularly in England and Holland. Players like Chopra would make a big difference to the team,'' the coach said.

Houghton is no alien to Canada and he was the head coach of the Toronto Blizzards during the early 1980s in the North American Soccer League.

Of late, he served as head coach of China's and Uzbekistan's national teams and his vast knowledge of the game in the continent prompted the All India Football Federation to rope him in.

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