Senior players defend Houghton on SAFF Championship debacle

New Delhi, July 2 (PTI) - Senior Indian players Tuesday
threw their weight behind national football coach Bob
Houghton, saying calls for his ouster following the South
Asian Football Federation Cup debacle are unfair and the
Englishman deserves another term after his contract expires in
May next year.

Former coach Syed Nayeemuddin had called for Houghton's
dismissal for failing to produce any substantial result in two
years at the helm of Indian football.

"I was sacked after losing to Oman (in early 2006) in the
AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Now India failed to defend the SAFF
Championship title, Houghton should be sacked now or he should
resign. I was sacked for not bringing the results, he should
be meted out the same treatment now," Nayeemuddin had told
PTI.

But senior player Renedy Singh disagreed with Nayeemuddin
and said Houghton was a far better coach than the Dronacharya
awardee Indian.

"The Indian team has been doing well in the last two
years. We lost only one game in the SAFF Championship though
it was in the final. It can happen to any team. You cannot
blame the coach or the players for losing one match," he said.

"In my nine years of international career, I think India
has not got a better coach than Houghton. We have seen enough
of Nayeemuddin, Houghton is a far better coach than him," said
the midfielder who began his international career in 1999.

Renedy also supported his captain Baichung Bhutia who had
said Houghton should be given a second tenure.

Baichung had said the Englishman is the best coach India
has had in four decades.

Another key member of the national team, playmaker Climax
Lawrence also brushed aside Nayeemuddin's call for Houghton's
head, saying the Englishman's record in his two years at the
helm speaks for itself.

"Nayeemuddin was wrong to call for Houghton's sacking. In
the last 18 matches we have played under him we lost only
thrice, that speaks for itself. We lost to Maldives no doubt
but Houghton should not be blamed for that nor the players. It
can happen to any team," said the Indian team's 'Midfield
General'.

Striker Sunil Chhetri said Nayeemuddin can have his
opinion and there was nothing wrong in that, but felt Houghton
could not be compared to the former Indian coach.

"Bob is one of the best in Asia, he is a hugely
experienced and respected coach so we should not compare him
with Nayeemuddin. I think Bob has changed the whole scenario
of football in the country," he said.

He said he would want Houghton to continue for another
term.

"It is not a question of supporting or not supporting, I
pray that Bob continues as coach after his contract expires.
We have learnt a lot from him," said Chhetri.

Former national coach Sukhwinder Singh was guarded in his
response, though he said the SAFF final loss has "jolted
Indian football".

"This is not an area which I should be commenting on. You
cannot blame anybody for the loss against Maldives in the SAFF
final but no doubt it was not good for Indian football. It has
jolted India's pride," he said.

Asked whether Indian football was improving in the last
two years, the JCT coach said, "It is difficult to assess, we
won the Nehru Cup (in August last year), lost the SAFF title
and again I am hoping of a good show in the AFC Challenger Cup
in Hyderabad (from July 30)." PTI