India Players: In Bob we trust!

Widely travelled English football coach Bob Houghton has been the chief coach of the Indian national football team since summer 2006 and India having played at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup is a huge success for a football nation which currently is in a developmental stage.

If you talk to the Indian players you will often get similar answers that Bob has been fundamental in the development of the team and it has improved considerably over the last three/four years. If Bob really wanted then most of his players would walk through fire for him, then the level of trust goes that far.

India captain Baichung Bhutia said, "We were at the Asian Cup after 27 years. That is prove enough what Bob Houghton has done for Indian football. He has instilled confidence in us to face tougher opposition with a positive frame of mind."

As a coach Bob Houghton isn’t someone who likes to experiment with his playing system nor with the squad. Since Bob's arrival India have been playing a simple 4-4-2 system. And the squad hasn't seen major fluctuation, rather small changes here and there or forced changes due to injuries.

The Asian Cup started for India with a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Asia's number one ranked side Australia. There had been fears that India could be walloped by the Socceroos, but Bob's boys would hold their ground and avoid a heavy defeat. As Bob said afterwards, "we had prepared for this as good as we could."

In their second group match against Bahrain India gave it all against Bahrain, but in the end lost 2-5. The result sadly does not reflect the game as it was at times much closer and a draw could have been possible if the defence had not made so many easy mistakes, while in attack India played one of their best matches against such tough opposition.

In their final group game India were often outplayed by the skillful South Koreans, but only lost 4-1 in a match which for many India players was a dream come true when they faced Manchester United star Ji-Sung Park.

These overall heartening results show that Bon Houghton's persistence with certain players plus his system and tactics paid off. It was clear from the onset that India playing in this group wouldn't be fighting for top position, but to show to Asia that Indian football is there and we are hopefully here to stay.

In a chat before the tournament started Bob had told me that the reason of numerous injuries to players was simply the workload. The players and their bodies had to prepare for the Asian Cup physically likely never before in their career and this lead to numerous muscle injuries.

But the trust goes the other way too. Bob just loves his boys, whom he regards as a great set of lads! Especially with Baichung Bhutia he has a special relationship as Baichung resurrected his India career after Bob became India coach as earlier Baichung had planned to end his international career.

Bob Houghton last year renewed his contract until 2013 with the All India Football Federation until the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Bob himself wants to stay and rebuild the team as senior players like Baichung Bhutia, Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Mondal, Climax Lawrence and Renedy Singh all are getting older and new blood will have to come in.

Indian midfielder Renedy Singh said, "I hope Bob stays many more years India coach. Only then can we improve further."