XtraTime Web Desk: Reigning Indian Super League (ISL) winners Atletico de Kolkata’s assistant coach Sanjoy Sen feels reducing the number of foreign players in ISL and I League is the way forward for Indian football as far as grooming young talent is concerned. During a Live chat on Xtra Time Bangla You Tube channel, the former I League winning Mohun Bagan coach said, “AIFF should follow AFC guidelines. This will only improve the standard of Indian football as more and more local talent can get opportunity. There is no world class striker in the national team apart from Sunil Chhetri. Jeje is just recovering from an injury.”
In recent times quite a few players who have been forced to play at different positions in order to make way for foreign recruits.
“Balwant Singh was a potential goal scorer when he was at Mohun Bagan. He was tried at positions which he was not used to before joining ATK. Soubhik Chakraborty was made to play at right back position. If we make the players play at uncomfortable positions we can never strengthen our national squad. The only way out is to reduce the number of foreign players in each team.”
The organisers of the Indian Super League (ISL) FSDL are open to the idea of reducing foreign players from next season, but that suggestion may have come too late. During a conference call last month with CEOs of all ISL franchises, organisers suggested that they could look into a minimum of 3+1 (three internationals and one Asian) and a maximum of six foreign players (5+1) to be registered for next season. Whoever wants betterment of Indian football has felt reduction in foreign players and adoption of the 3+1 (AFC) formula as the way forward.
National coach Igor Stimac has also maintained that reducing the foreign players in ISL and I League is the way forward. Even though FSDL is willing to walk that path, clubs have differences of opinion.
Most ISL franchises including Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters, Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai City have already made important international signings for next season and may not wish to agree about such a thought.