NEW DELHI, Mar 13: After India’s disastrous AFC Challenge Cup campaign ended with a 0-4 loss against North Korea in Kathmandu today, the AIFF bosses have decided that technical director Rob Baan will now take a final call in zeroing in on Savio Medeira’s replacement as senior team coach.
India went into the AFC Challenge Cup as defending champions and conceded eight goals in three matches and a dip below 160 in FIFA rankings is certain.
“We don’t have any matches till May 31 so whether Savio Medeira stays or goes becomes irrelevant. It’s all about whether AIFF is keen on paying him salary for couple of months or not. That amount isn’t that huge that parent body won’t honour his contract. But certainly, he will not get an extension after this dismal show,” a senior AIFF official preferring anonymity told today.
AIFF technical director Baan has concentrated more on the junior squad till now but he will entrusted with greater responsibilities as far as senior squad is concerned.
“The AIFF has full faith in Rob Baan’s abilities. He will be the man who would decide on a good and affordable foreign replacement. If you look at the standard of Indian coaches, it’s not very encouraging. We certainly need a good foreign coach to take us forward,” he said.
Medeira’s credentials as a coach is nothing much to write about as under his tutelage Salgaocar were relegated from I-League (National football League then) in 2005-06. (PTI)
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