Exclusive: Main target for us are AFC Women's Championship 2022 Qualifiers starting next year- Maymol Rocky
The women's national team tactician was speaking ahead of their departure for the COTIF Cup later this week.
The Indian Women's national team take off on 19 July 2019 to participate in the COTIF Cup and their coach Maymol Rocky is optimistic for getting positive results in the upcoming tournament. This is not the first time the TEAM are travelling to Spain for the tournament, but the previous edition does not hold fond memories for the team.
Having played there in 2018 previously, the team failed to win a single game, but Rocky believes that they have grown since then and are ready to face the best sides of Europe.
When asked about the improvements that she has witnessed and how did she help the team achieve them she said, "We have grown in a sense of performance. Earlier, I had a younger squad and it is difficult to get young girls into the national team and to get them into a professional setup is tough. It takes time for them. The best part was I had enough of time with me to develop them for the Olympic Qualifiers."
She continued, "For what I had at the day I started the camp and at the end of the camp for what I had, I may be the happiest person. Now, I have some polished players, but at the start of the camp in December, I was so depressed regarding the players we needed in particular positions and worried about a lot of things we needed to do."
"But exposure tours and playing competitive matches against good teams helped us. Maybe it is not like we have won those matches, but the learning and the players could understand it more. We were doing these video sessions and working on the pitch and it really worked," she added.
Watch: India women's head coach Mymol Rocky speaks ahead of COTIF Cup
The COTIF Cup is a Spanish invitational friendly tournament which is being held annually among the youth and women teams. Although, the men's tournament has been around since 1984, it was in 2012 when women's tournament kicked off.
It often involves a mixture of both the national teams and clubs. In 2018, India faced Fundación Albacete, Morocco, Levante U.D. and Madrid C.F.
"For me, every match will be really difficult and tough and that's what I want, to play every tough team, to play the best opponents in the world because to be the best we need to at least, play with the best."
"We normally play against Bhutan and Sri Lanka and we were playing against countries where we were the best and now at least AIFF is supporting us to get those matches, where I and the girls should know where we are standing."
"That's the best part. It's just not about winning a match and yes we step out on the field to win a match, but we should know where we are standing."
The coach insisted that the team and the backroom staff have a bigger goal in their mind and they are in the enhancement process. She believes the experience is going to help them for greater good.
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]"For any coach, the key target is to win the matches. Every match will be a learning process. We need to improve day-by-day because the main target for us are the AFC Women's Championship 2022 Qualifiers starting next year, but before that we are really travelling and playing some good teams ahead."
"The end target is the qualifiers. It has been so many years we have been working for that," said Rocky before bidding adieu.
Latest News
- ISL 2023-24: FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC Match Report & Highlights
- Mauricio Pochettino in danger to lose Chelsea job following embarrassing loss to Arsenal
- Didn't expect there will be five goals in this game, says Mumbai City FC boss Petr Kratky
- ISL 2023-24: Mumbai City stun FC Goa with late comeback
- 'Jayesh Rane - SAB PE BHARI' - Fans react to Mumbai City's win over FC Goa in ISL semis
Trending Articles
- Scouting Report: Who is East Bengal's bright talent Sayan Banerjee?
- Which clubs have won ISL Trophy in the past?
- Anju Turambekar appointed AFC Youth Panel Member to represent Singapore
- Hyderabad FC handed 'another' FIFA transfer ban
- Jahouh's domination and other talking points from Odisha FC's win over Mohun Bagan
Editor Picks
- All-Indian scorecard and other talking points from ISL semi-final between FC Goa and Mumbai City FC
- Which clubs have won ISL Trophy in the past?
- Anju Turambekar appointed AFC Youth Panel Member to represent Singapore
- Top five players with most away goals in UEFA Champions League knockout phase
- Hyderabad FC handed 'another' FIFA transfer ban