JOIN USBengaluru carve out right way to success
The wait is finally over. Years of agony and struggle are things of the past. Finally, there’s an Indian football team in the final of a continental championship. And there couldn’t have been a better team other than Bengaluru FC to achieve what no other Indian outfit has ever achieved so far.
The team that won the I-League in its debut season, the Federation Cup in the following year and another league title in the third, Bengaluru took their performance a notch higher on a cool Wednesday night. They once again proved what a proper system can achieve if it is combined with commitment and hard work.
“This is what you can achieve if you have a proper system in place. For years I have been saying that we (Indian teams) can do well in Asia if we have a proper system in place. And now Bengaluru have proved it,” said one of India’s most successful coaches, Armando Colaco, on Bengaluru’s success.
The BFC captain Sunil Chhetri, who has been the fulcrum of this team ever since its debut season, too echoed the same feelings. “It’s different here. Right from the coaches, to the players, the support staff and everyone involved is very much dedicated to the job we do,” he said. “It’s the hard work that we put in during the training that has paid dividends on the pitch,” he added.
When the club was formed three years back, not many gave them a chance against the big names in the Indian domestic circuit, let alone the Asian stage. But the city side proved that running a team professionally is what eventually matters despite several problems that confront Indian football, including the fate of the of the I-League itself.
Right from its inception, professionalism has been the hallmark of this Bengaluru set up. A closely-knit unit, they stay together, train together and sometimes even end up spending their free time with their team-mates. And this camaraderie has helped the side achieve great success on the field.
Emrbacing technology
Bengaluru have also been the pioneers in embracing technology. GPS tracking system and heart-rate monitor are a few of the things that made its debut in Indian football courtesy Bengaluru FC. And many believe the credit for this should go to Ashley Westwood, the former coach of the Blues.
“While the team deserves every respect for the incredible feat that they have achieved, we shouldn’t forget the side is reaping benefit of the seeds that Ashley had sown during his time with the club,” said Colaco.
“He gave a great deal of importance to fitness, diet, scouting, youth development and player retention, and while he has moved on, he has left a lasting blueprint for success, something that I think has helped (Albert) Roca to get the team play a different style in an effective manner,” stated the Goan.
The next target for BFC is the final against Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (the Air Force Club) on November 5 in Doha. And their head coach Alber Roca hopes that the title will be a perfect icing on what has been an incredible season for the Blues. “We have two weeks to prepare and as I said, it will be incredible if we win the title — for us, for the fans and for Indian football. The commitment of this team is massive but for now I think the players deserve a few days off, to come back with their batteries recharged and then we will shift focus to the big game,” he said.
Even if they fail in their bid to scale that summit, one thing is for sure, the club has inspired thousands of youngsters to take up the beautiful game, an achievement that should be rated much above anything else. And hopefully, the ‘legacy’ clubs of the country can take a leaf out of Bengaluru’s book soon.