Ian Gillan: Over-reliance on foreign players hindering Indian football

Ian Andrew Gillan, the newly appointed head coach of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, said during an interaction with the media in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday evening that over dependence on foreign players in domestic leagues is hampering the growth of Indian football. “In all domestic leagues in India including the ISL and IFL, the key players are foreign stars. This hinders the development of Indian players. The main objective of these leagues should be to nurture the Indian players,’’ said Gillan.

Gillan, who guided Calicut FC to the title in the inaugural edition of Super League Kerala (SLK), said SLK places emphasis on player development rather than relying on imported talent. He pointed to a SLK regulation when describing that difference. “The SLK rule that mandates two native under-23 players in the playing XI helps in their development and creates players of international standards. I talk from my own experience. ” The 61-year-old Scottish-Australian coach has held coaching posts in Australia, England, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Nepal.

“I remember an under-23 player who played for Calicut FC figuring in the ISL, the top tier league in the country, in the same season and it represents his growth as well as that of SLK. If I find an Indian player better than a foreign player for a certain position, I will definitely play him,’’ Gillan said, citing a direct example of the pathway he described.

Gillan addressed expectations around the Kombans’ performance and home form, saying the team will seek to improve after a disappointing record at home. “From the little time I spent with the boys, I feel we have a squad that is strong enough to face any challenge. I assure the Kombans fans that they will give their 100 percent this season. As far as tactics goes, it will be flexible depending on the opponents and the situation we are in, ‘’ he said.

The Thiruvananthapuram Kombans fielded foreign players mostly from Brazil in their first two seasons, the club confirmed, but Gillan said the squad will be more multinational in the coming campaign.

The Kombans open their campaign away to Gillan’s former club Calicut FC in Kozhikode on September 26.