Indian Football’s Next Generation? Veteran Coaches See Promise in Bibiano’s Boys
The festival, played in an 8v8 format with two 20-minute halves, has offered the Blue Colts an opportunity to test themselves against international opposition. India made a promising start to their Group K campaign, winning against Laos and Cameroon before drawing with Grenada and beating Bahrain. A defeat to Senegal left them third in the group, sending them into Tier C of the tournament phase.
XtraTime Webdesk: India’s U-15 boys may be competing in an unfamiliar format at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Azerbaijan, but their performances in Baku have caught the attention of several experienced Indian football coaches. Former India coach Shabbir Ali, Sanjoy Sen, Sankarlal Chakraborty and Armando Colaco have all praised Bibiano Fernandes and his young team, while stressing that consistent match exposure will be vital for their growth.
The festival, played in an 8v8 format with two 20-minute halves, has offered the Blue Colts an opportunity to test themselves against international opposition. India made a promising start to their Group K campaign, winning against Laos and Cameroon before drawing with Grenada and beating Bahrain. A defeat to Senegal left them third in the group, sending them into Tier C of the tournament phase.
Fernandes’ side then went down 1-2 to Honduras but bounced back with a 3-2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Today they have faced Afghanistan but they lost.
For Shabbir Ali, the team’s efforts deserve recognition, with the coach and support staff also playing an important role in the campaign.
“Very good performance. We have to give credit to the coach as well as the players and support staff,” he said.
Sanjoy Sen also believes the results reflect the work being done by Fernandes, regardless of the format in which the matches are played.
“Whether it is 8v8, it doesn't matter, but our performance under Bibiano has been really good so far,” Sen said.
However, he feels that international exposure alone will not be enough to help the youngsters make the next step. Sen emphasised the importance of regular competitive football, suggesting that players at this stage should ideally feature in 30 to 40 matches in a season.
“When you play many matches, mentally you will be much more stronger, then you can face any challenges,” he explained.
Sankarlal Chakraborty was impressed by the way Fernandes has managed the young squad and prepared the team for its opponents. He praised the coach for keeping the players organised and ensuring that they followed a clear game plan in every match.
Armando Colaco, meanwhile, called for continuity in the development process. According to him, the players should continue working under Fernandes for an extended period so that the team can build on the progress made in Azerbaijan.
The Blue Colts’ campaign in Baku has brought both encouraging results and valuable lessons. While the tournament has tested their ability to compete against teams from different footballing backgrounds, the bigger challenge will be to carry that experience into their future development.
The message from the veteran coaches is clear: Bibiano’s young side has shown promise, but sustained opportunities, regular match practice and continuity in coaching will be crucial if these players are to take the next step in Indian football.
