Latest news with #NorthEastUnited
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Youngsters should not jump into ISL, game time more important: Naushad Moosa
Naushad Moosa is coaching the India under-23 team Panaji: Naushad Moosa has returned as head coach of the India under-23 squad. This time, he has been handed a longer rope, stretching a year, and tasked with preparing the team for next year's Asian Games and the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, qualifiers for which will be held in September. Last year, Moosa, assistant to Juan Pedro at NorthEast United, was in charge of the under-23 team for two friendlies against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. 'The longer contract helps me understand the players better,' Moosa told TOI in a recent interview. 'I spoke with the AIFF and told them it's important to have longer camps as well, so that we can properly assess the players and opponents. I want to bring the best out of these players. Getting them to gel together, though, will be a challenge.' Moosa, a former international who played for India between 1994 and 1998 and won the SAFF Championship in 1997, has named a 29-member probable squad for the two friendlies in Dushanbe against Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, later this month. A concern for Moosa is that a majority of players are with ISL clubs. Many of them are without enough playing time in the top tier of Indian football. 'The younger under-19 players, all of them want to play for ISL clubs. My advice is don't jump (straightway) into the ISL. Of course, you should try, but only a few make it to the top. The youngsters can sign for clubs where they get to play. At this age, it's important for them to be playing competitive matches. Sitting on the bench for financially-rich clubs doesn't really help in their growth as players,' said Moosa. 'The younger players in the ISL are not getting enough opportunities. There are a lot of promising players in the I-League who we will track,' added Moosa. From amongst the 29 probables, only a handful have featured regularly for their teams in the ISL. Just one among them, Vibin Mohanan, has a senior team appearance, though Ayush Chhetri, Abhishek Singh and Suhail Bhat, all aged below 23, are currently under Manolo Marquez with the national team. Mohammed Sanan, Nikhil Barla (both Jamshedpur), Korou Singh, Bikash Yumnam (both Kerala Blasters), Macarton Louis Nickson, Parthib Gogoi (both NorthEast United) and Dipendu Biswas (Mohun Bagan) are the more recognisable names among the under-23 probables. Only two players -- Rahul Raju (Gokulam Kerala) and Mohammad Arbaz (Real Kashmir) – are doing duty in the I-League, the second tier tournament. 'We need to have more camps, more exposure matches. If we cannot travel abroad, we can play here, but with stronger opponents. Losing is not a problem. It's important we play stronger opponents to prepare for the challenges. Our aim should not be to win SAFF. We must look at the bigger stage where we will be properly judged,' said Moosa. India U-23 will face Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic in two friendlies on June 18 and June 21 as part of the AIFF's long-term plans to smoothen a pathway to the senior national team. The team is in Kolkata where they will train before setting off for Dushanbe on June 16.
News18
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
John Abraham On Why He Won't Work On OTT: 'Don't See Sense...'
Last Updated: John Abraham's The Diplomat is successful on OTT, but he prefers the big screen due to OTT's extensive setup and overheads. John Abraham's The Diplomat has found a new wave of success ever since it released on OTT. The digital debut has helped it reach an even broader audience. With OTT platforms becoming a preferred choice for both audiences and A-list actors alike, it's clear the medium is booming. That said, John seems content staying on the big screen for now, with no interest in diving into the world of web series. Explaining the reason behind it, John Abraham tells Hindustan Times, 'To do OTT, you need a very big office setup. You need a lot of people working towards something, where you don't even own the IP of. You make a commission from the series and that goes into your overheads. Anybody who's doing OTT today, they'll tell you absolutely the same thing. So, I don't see sense in breaking sweat on doing these series." That said, he's open to the idea,badmitting that if a compelling series comes his way and sparks his interest as a producer, he wouldn't hesitate to get on board. 'I would love to because I want to tell that story, not because I want to make a business model out of it. So, that's one reason why I'm not doing this as a producer yet." When asked if he would ever act in OTT, the actor responds, 'Never say never, but at this point of time, I do not want to come on OTT as an actor for a series or an original film. I want to come on the big screen. In my head, I believe I was made for the big screen. I have a lot of respect for OTT channels because most of the content, at least internationally, and so much of the Indian content like Paatal Lok is outstanding. I have so much of respect for the space, but I don't see myself yet in it." On the work front, John Abraham last appeared in The Diplomat, alongside a talented cast which includes Sharib Hashmi, Sadia Khateeb and more. The actor wears many hats — he's the owner of the ISL football team NorthEast United, a film producer behind projects like Vicky Donor and Madras Cafe, and a passionate biker, which is a whole world of its own. First Published: May 26, 2025, 11:41 IST
