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After months of rumours and speculation, the AIFF Executive Committee has appointed Igor Stimac as the new head coach of the Indian Men's national football team and the U-23 Men's team.
The Technical Committee was highly impressed by his vision to lead India and recommended his name last Thursday. The Executive Committee didn't string any surprises and finalized the Croatian.
What gave Igor Stimac a headstart over the other competitors were his in-depth research on Indian football. He claimed to have watched a lot of ISL and I-League matches keenly and brought a list of 36 players who impressed him.
Now, the question remains whether that list included any youngster. The Indian national team is undergoing a phase of transition, making it a wonderful opportunity for some youngsters to make their impact.
Here are 5 youngsters who could make their debut under new coach Igor Stimac.
#5 Gaurav Bora
A product of the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in New Delhi, Gaurav Bora became the first Assamese player to lift the I-League trophy after his two headers in the second half against Minerva Punjab made all the difference in an action-packed match.
Originally a defensive midfielder, Bora shifted to the central defender position this season under the tutelage of Akbar Nawas and forged a solid partnership with Roberto Eslava. While Chennai City FC's defence wasn't the most miserly, the duo helped the team play out from the back.
Bora's calm demeanor even when pressed hard allowed the I-League champions to play a free-flowing brand of football right from the back. That contributed to a total of 48 goals in the league, not bettered by any team in the past six seasons.
Eslava's injury in the dying stages of the campaign meant that the Spaniard had to miss out on the Super Cup. Bora led the all-Indian defense in the knockout tourney against the ISL sides and ensured they reached the semi-finals.
There are very few defenders in the country who can play from the back and Gaurav Bora is one of them. If Stimac wants to inculcate that style of play in the team, he should look to no further than Gaurav Bora.
#4 Komal Thatal
Komal Thatal was touted to be India's next rising star when the country hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017. However, coach Luis Norton de Matos gave him only one start against the USA as the Portuguese didn't deem him physical enough to compete against the likes of Colombia and Ghana.
Amidst rumors of a tiff with De Matos, Komal Thatal signed for ATK in the 2017-18 season of ISL where he made two appearances as a substitute. The next season, he became the youngest goalscorer in the ISL when he scored against Bengaluru FC in a league encounter.
The flashy winger can play on either side of the pitch, with his dribbling skills and trickery creating constant menace for the opposition defenders and helping the team win fouls in vital areas of the pitch. Komal also represented India in the AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers where his shot in the 89th minute against Uzbekistan was the closest the team came to scoring a goal.
Komal was also included in India's preliminary squad for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and for the friendly against Jordan. The 18-year-old should give tough competition to Udanta Singh and Ashique Kuruniyan for a place in the starting line-up.
#3 Anwar Ali
India had a disastrous outing in the 2020 AFC U-23 Qualifiers in Uzbekistan, where the team conceded five goals in two matches under Derrick Pereira's tutelage. The only saving grace was Anwar Ali's performance in the backline.
The Indian Arrows center-back played in all the four positions of the defence in the tournament, bailing out the team whenever the opposition surged forward. If it weren't for him, India would have lost by heavier margins.
Anwar Ali has also been a regular for the Indian Arrows in the past two seasons, leading the defence with aplomb in the I-League. A no-nonsense defender, Anwar is equally familiar with both his feet.
His brilliant free-kick goal against Argentina U-20 in the COTIF Cup earned the India U-20 team a hard-fought victory against the South American giants which erupted joy in the entire nation. With Anas Edthodika also announcing his retirement, the center-back position is up for grabs and Anwar Ali is your traditional #2 to choose.
#2 Jobby Justin
Technically not a youngster, Jobby Justin is yet to feature in India's squad after his impressive performance for East Bengal in the I-League. ISL club ATK took note of his talent and has already roped him for the upcoming season with a lucrative offer.
India has been over-reliant on Sunil Chhetri for scoring goals, with the team struggling to find the back of the net in his absence. Chhetri needs someone to link up with and also take out the rival defenders. While Jeje did that in the Asian Cup Qualifiers, his slow pace meant that couldn't be replicated against Bahrain and UAE in the main edition of the tournament.
Jobby is fast and dangerous in the box if he gets the ball in his feet. Moreover, he played as a False 9 for East Bengal under Alejandro Menendez, dropping down deep to allow the midfielders to go forward.
If Stimac wants his front line to pass around rather than waiting for the defenders to lob long balls, Jobby Justin should get a chance in the starting line-up.
#1 Amarjit Singh Kiyam
Amarjit Singh Kiyam led India in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and captained the Indian Arrows team for two seasons in the I-League and Super Cup. An attacking midfielder, his accurate through-balls and pinpoint short passes have created plenty of goalscoring chances for his team.
Amarjit's ability to link up with the wingers and spotting their free-run could be a bonus India inherits if Stimac chooses him. Amarjit's passing coupled with Udanta's pace in the right wing would be a lethal combination for India in the attacking forefront.
Amarjit was selected in India's squad for the 2020 U-23 Championship Qualifiers but didn't make it through to the starting eleven. India lacked the attacking impetus in his absence and failed to qualify for the main edition of the tournament.
Which other youngster do you think should be handed their India debut under new coach Igor Stimac? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
