UPFROnT
OWEn COYLE
INTERVIEW
The new Indian Super League season
starts this month, so where are you
at the moment?
The whole thing is based in Goa again
without any fans, like last season. It’s
a lovely hotel that we’re in, but we’re
not allowed to mix with other patrons.
We’ve got part of the hotel to ourselves
and can’t go in the swimming pool or
anything. You’ve just got your room,
the meeting room and a bit of grass
out the front door. Other than that, it’s
going to training, going to games and
coming back again.
So, you’re living in Goa without any
of the advantages of living in Goa?
Yeah, that’s probably a good way of
describing it! It’s a challenge. From the
mental aspect, that’s very difficult for
the players. Most of them know what
to expect as they did it last year, but it
doesn’t make it any easier. We’ll have
little quizzes and other things to keep
them occupied, because otherwise
you’d go insane. At least the matches
get played and everyone is safe, which
is of paramount importance. There will
be one game per night because this
league is covered by so many Asian
countries – it gets amazing coverage.
We’re all hoping that next season we’ll
be able to play home and away, and
get the crowds in again.
Bubble life aside, have you enjoyed
working in India?
I'm loving it. There’s incredible passion
for football here. Jamshedpur’s ground
holds 22,000 and that’d be sold out for
every home match. Win, lose or draw,
the supporters come out in numbers.
I’m not saying there’s massive revenue
in ticket sales, but the atmosphere is
fantastic. My first game for Chennaiyin
that cricket is at, then you’ll know that
something incredible has happened.How long will it be until we see India
at the World Cup?
At the moment, India aren’t close at
all. Is that going to change in the next
two or three years? No, probably not.
But thereafter, who knows? There are
some excellent young players coming
through. India are the top nation in
South Asia, but to get further they’ve
got to beat the likes of Australia, Japan
and South Korea, which is very hard.
There are good things happening here,
though. A lot of clubs have affiliations
with sides who have fantastic history.
Rangers have a tie-up with Bengaluru,
and Dortmund and Watford are also
involved. Big clubs from around Europe
understand the potential in India.What are your long-term plans?
When I took the job last year I signed
a two-year deal, but I just love football
and when I accept a challenge, which
Jamshedpur undoubtedly was, I want
to do my very best for everyone. I knowThe former Burnley and
Bolton boss moved to
India with Chennaiyin
in 2019 – now he’s all
set for a second season
in charge of Jamshedpur
was against Jamshedpur – it was my
first experience of football here and
even for somebody who’d managed
for three years in the Premier League,
in the US and in Scotland, it was truly
incredible. They’re the only club in this
league who own their stadium, and
the pitch was like Wembley – a terrific
surface. It showed me how important
football is to people here.Is the quality of football improving?
There’s no doubt it’s getting better
every year. The Indian Super League is
in its eighth year now – still very much
in its infancy. For me, as a foreign boss,
the real aim is to improve the Indian
players here. You want the league to
produce players who can play for thenational team. India is a country with
massive untapped potential, but you
need funds poured into the grassroots.Is football now vying with cricket for
a place in Indian hearts?
Cricket is the No.1 sport for a reason:
they’re one of the best teams in the
world. But the sports don’t clash. When
the cricket stops, the football starts,
and football has a huge chance to get
bigger. If football ever gets to the level30 December 2021 FourFourTwo