Patchy India confront Hong Kong's ‘naturalised' force

Time of India

3 hours ago

Panaji: Manolo Marquez has been in-charge of the national team for seven games since last year, and his only win was against lowly-ranked Maldives where, by the coach's own admission, his team 'didn't play a good game.
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There have been disappointing results, including last week's 2-0 loss against Thailand, but given some encouraging performances – draws against Vietnam away, Malaysia at home, – Manolo believes India can get a favourable result against Hong Kong in the Asian Cup 2027 final round qualifier at the newly-constructed Kai Tak Stadium, a 50,000-capacity venue that will host its first football match.
'We are not very worried about the scores in friendlies,' Manolo told reporters on Monday.
'What's important is that our focus is on the important game.'
Given their patchy form, India will find it challenging. But having dropped points against Bangladesh in the opening round, they now must win against Hong Kong to have their noses in front as only the group toppers qualify for the continental showpiece in Saudi Arabia.
'The environment in the team is good. Obviously, in all teams across the world, the environment is better when you are winning games constantly.
But the environment, the relationship between the players, regardless of the results, is very good. It's true that we have won just one game against Maldives, but the team is also difficult to beat. We are preparing some things for the future,' said Manolo.
Nobody knows about Indian football's future but the present certainly looks bleak. Spread over 18 months and 16 matches, India have won just two. The three trophies that India won at home in 2023 and the away win against Kuwait in the World Cup qualifiers seem like ancient history.
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No wonder the AIFF is concerned. The federation has told coach Manolo that the players will get a bonus of $50,000 (approx. Rs 43 lakh) if they win against Hong Kong, the first such reward in over 20 years when a promise of Rs 1 lakh to each member of the team was made, if they could beat mighty Japan in the World Cup qualifiers.
On paper, India should get the job done against a team who are ranked 153, 26 slots behind. The head-to-head record is marginally better too with nine wins to Hong Kong's eight in 24 meetings.
When the two teams last met in Kolkata, the hosts scripted a comfortable 4-0 victory.
Plenty though has changed since then.
Hong Kong has started fielding naturalised players, making the team stronger, as evident from the first-half lead that they took against
in a friendly last month. The only goal for the hosts in that 1-3 loss came from the boots of Juninho, a naturalised Brazilian. Other foreign-born players include Everton Camargo, Stefan Pereira and Dudu.
'If I am the Hong Kong coach, maybe I would do the same,' said Manolo. 'The problem is the rule. If I have my father or mother or someone very close from the country, I can understand. But there are countries that just select players if they play in the league. For me, it's not fair.'
Ashley Westwood won't mind.
A familiar name in Indian football having coached several teams, including most-famously Bengaluru FC, the former Manchester United trainee took over Hong Kong in 2024 after leaving his previous post with Afghanistan.
He started badly, a solitary goal loss against Liechtenstein, but then bounced back with seven straight wins, their longest winning streak in almost 40 years. Since Westwood took charge, Hong Kong have lost just one of their last 10 matches. But there have been concerning draws, most notably the stalemate against Nepal last week, a result that will provide India with some hope.