Five reasons why Indian women's team need a top permanent head coach

The Blue Tigresses lost to Nepal in the semi-final of the SAFF event.

Indian women’s football team failed to reach the SAFF Women’s Championship final at the hands of a nation ranked 44 places below them. In light of such a devastating loss, the absence of a regimented system and a process with a vision came to the fore. Although Thomas Dennerby was appointed to lead the Blue Tigresses in July, the whole selection process of players and conduction of national camps remains shoddy.

From the lack of a proper league schedule to maintaining fitness, a number of issues need to be addressed and a permanent professional head coach seems to be the the first solution to many. Of course, that by itself is not going to suffice, but it surely will be a start. Hence, let us see five reasons as to why the Indian women's team needs a top permanent head coach. 

5. Ability to learn from overseas expertise and foreign systems

While a foreign coach needs to be appointed in the first place, he/she must be willing to learn from the already existing successful club hierarchies abroad. Maybe the first preference should not be powerhouses like Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain or Olympique Lyonnais, given the champions’ financial prowess and long-standing systematic approach. However, the coach could easily look at most of the successful national teams to eke out a plan.

However, it will be a daunting task given how the United States is light years ahead of any other country. The approach should be practical. The Blue Tigresses’ future coach can also learn from top clubs. Following their examples, the coach must be willing to learn and adapt to even more challenging situations.    

4. Emphasis on fitness

A coach’s boon and bane is his/her squad and to develop them into the former, health is of primal importance. In this case, appointing chefs, dieticians, alongside the routine physical fitness coaches is vital. Additionally, in the words of Andrea Pirlo, “Football is played with your head. Your feet are just tools.” Hence, mental endurance must also be honed and sharpened by psychologists and therapists.

As of now, the staff only consists of goalkeeper coach Rajat Guha, assistant coach Priya Parathi Valappil and strength and conditioning coach Jane Tornqvist. Set-piece coaches are only one aspect of what must be included to amplify the performance and tenacity of the players. Before Nepal, a 0-3 loss to Bangladesh also highlighted why the Indian women’s team demands a better fitness regime. 

3. Holistic growth and year-long development of players 

Another important area is the all-round and year-long continued development of the players when it comes to the national setup. Currently, the Indian Women’s League spans for a maximum of two months, including qualifying and final knockouts. As was the case with the Indian Super League, it must be noted that such a short span of playing time does nothing to help the players in the long term.

Compared to any European or American leagues, the AIFF has a lot of ground to cover. Anything less than a span of six months of playing time would be counterproductive, both to the fitness and readiness of the players. This change should be spearheaded by the incoming coach who should propose an appropriate model. The same will also favor year-long scouting and ample opportunities for newer and younger players. 

2. Professional approach

One of the primary flaws of the Indian national women’s team setup is the tournament-centric approach they have. Supplemented by a lack of scouting structure and support staff, professionalism is far off the mark. Absence of a technical director further causes anarchy in this regard and a call for the same is on the horizon. The Indian team has maintained dominance over the SAFF countries and the recent losses have pinpointed the faults in the current pedagogy. Of course, flukes are an essential part of football but if those flukes are routine, something is surely amiss.

Nevertheless, having a professional approach with a strict working ethos is of prime importance to ward off any complacency. When it comes to scouting, the network must be made stronger. Observing players across the country should take place over a longer span of time; not two-three months before a major tournament. Selection must cater to the coach’s tactical setup which should also be well-backed by statistical data and proper groundwork. Merely selecting a particular line-up and going with a hit-and-miss approach is suicidal and must be avoided. A technical director should also be appointed to take ownership of the general direction and progress of the setup. 

1. Progress over a sustained period

The SAFF Championship losses should serve as a wake-up call for the AIFF to emphasize more towards particular aspects. Not only should they appoint a proper vision to the entire hierarchy, they should also work on specific long-term goals. Looking at international setups like Brazil, Germany and Canada would surely provide inspirational instances. Success never comes overnight and in the Blue Tigresses’ case, it surely needs much more patience. If Igor Stimac’s approach with the Blue Tigers is anything to go by, the women’s team needs more time.

Appointing proper support staff, creating a league schedule of longer duration and other such steps are all stepping stones to a larger objective. It will, eventually, make the Indian women’s team a force to reckon with. The time couldn’t be riper for such changes. Especially given how women’s football has only just begun to pick up the pace.