23-05-2025
India must aim to qualify regularly for FIFA U-17 World Cup: Bibiano
Bibiano Fernandes will turn his focus to the U-17 national team ahead of the SAFF U-17 Championship and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers to be held in November
Panaji: Bibiano Fernandes' record with India's junior teams has been impressive.
It was during his time at the helm that India were one win away from making it to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, losing a close game against Asian giants South Korea.
At regional championships, India have been in a league of their own.
By winning the SAFF U-19 Championship on penalties against Bangladesh on Sunday, India have shown that they are the best in South Asia. But, with Bibiano as coach, that's hardly the target. It's much bigger, like making it to the age-group World Cup on sporting merit.
'We can achieve this dream (of playing in the World Cup),' Bibiano told TOI in a recent interview.
'I was on the sidelines when the U-17 team played against South Korea and we were one match away from qualifying for the U-17 World Cup (in 2018). The youth set up is getting better. There are many games. RDFL has also helped a lot. But we still need to do more. If we start doing it right now, we will knock on the doors of the U-17 World Cup soon,' said Bibiano.
These are not just words. This is a dream.
Bibiano returned to the national team after cutting short his stint at Bengaluru FC.
The 48-year-old had only two months to prepare for the SAFF tournament as he joined the Indian junior coaching set up.
'Frist, I thought it would be difficult because time was very short. But I saw the talent we have and was happy with their level,' said Bibiano.
'Most of the players are with ISL teams and training with their seniors. That has helped gain this level and it in turn helped us a lot. To be honest, I did not expect that they would play so well,' he added.
The fans too played a crucial role as they turned out in large numbers at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh.
The team will now begin their preparations for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers, to be held next year.
Until then, Bibiano will turn his focus to the U-17 national team ahead of the SAFF U-17 Championship and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers to be held in November.
India made their debut at the U-17 World Cup in 2017 at home but has missed out on qualification ever since.
The following year, with Bibiano in charge, they came close to progress on sporting merit after a narrow 0-1 defeat at the hands of heavyweights South Korea in the AFC U-16 quarterfinals in Kuala Lumpur.
Bibiano now wants to complete unfinished business. 'We were close,' he remembered.
While the India men's senior team has dropped to 127 in the latest FIFA rankings, it has shown that investing in grassroots is the country's best bet of making it to the global stage.
'We can aim for the U-20 World Cup and gradually the senior team can dream. (For that to happen) We must target the U-17 World Cup every edition and be consistent. Hopefully, in six to seven years, we will qualify regularly,' said Bibiano.
