AIFF Technical Committee Advocates for Domestic Coach After Asian Cup Setback
The All India Football Federation's (AIFF) technical committee, led by former India captain IM Vijayan, has formally recommended the appointment of a domestic coach for the women's national team. This decisive move comes in the wake of India's profoundly disappointing performance at the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia, where the team failed to secure a single point.
Contract Extension Denied to Head Coach Amelia Valverde
The committee has explicitly advised the federation against offering a contract extension to outgoing head coach Amelia Valverde. This recommendation is directly attributed to the team's underwhelming results during the tournament. India suffered defeats in all three of its group-stage matches, including a particularly heavy 11-0 loss to a formidable Japanese side.
"We expected more from Valverde," a member of the technical committee revealed to The Times of India following a crucial meeting held on Tuesday. "She was brought in specifically to help India at the Asian Cup. But the performance was disappointing."
Potential Domestic Candidates Emerge for Top Job
According to reliable sources within the federation, the technical committee has put forward the names of two prominent domestic coaches for consideration. The recommended candidates are Anthony Andrews, currently associated with East Bengal, and Crispin Chettri, a former coach of the national team. This shift towards a homegrown coaching strategy signals a potential new direction for the team's development.
Financial and Contractual Hurdles with Valverde
Even if the technical committee had supported Valverde's continuation, securing her services would have presented significant challenges. Sources indicate that the Costa Rican coach was seeking a pay raise and was in favor of a long-term contract commitment from the AIFF. Valverde, who notably guided Costa Rica to the FIFA Women's World Cup on two separate occasions, brought considerable experience but could not translate that into success for the Indian squad in the recent continental championship.
The committee's firm stance underscores a critical evaluation period for Indian women's football. The focus now appears to be on rebuilding with a coach familiar with the domestic football landscape, aiming to foster long-term growth and improved competitive results on the international stage.
