SAFF Championship 2013: Only the result counts – Wim Koevermans

India might have produced two unconvincing displays at SAFF Championship 2013 so far but they have four points and are still well on course for a place in the semi-finals. Head coach Wim Koevermans admitted after the 1-1 stalemate with Bangladesh on Tuesday that his team hasn’t been at their best but is satisfied to get the points on the board.

“At international level what matters are the results. In the past, we have played some good football and yet haven’t got the result. Nobody remembers how you play as long as the result is achieved. Like it doesn’t matter how we played against Myanmar because at the end of the day, we didn’t qualify. Some may say we have been lucky but both against Pakistan and today we created a lot of chances and it could have been much better had we taken them. I would have preferred six (points) but I am glad we have four,” Koevermans stated at the post-match press conference.

While his Bangladesh counterpart and former student Lodewijk de Kruif blasted the match officials and alleged them of being biased against his team, Koevermans once again hit out at the tournament schedule.

“The schedule is a bit crazy because we are having to play every two days. You can’t expect to produce good football in such a scenario, I understand there are financial reasons behind it but ultimately the quality suffers. We also had just one day’s rest while Bangladesh had two and it had an effect. The risk of injuries is increasing with every game and even today someone like Francis (Fernandes) was having a great game but struggled physically in the end,” the 53-year-old said.

The Euro 1988 winner also defended his decision to stick with Nallappan Mohanraj at left back and explained why reigning AIFF Player of the Year Syed Rahim Nabi wasn’t involved at all.

“Look, Mohanraj is still very young and if defensively we make any mistakes, it’s the whole defence or team not just one player. I feel he had a solid game today. Nabi hasn’t played much at domestic level this year so I have to use him carefully,” Koevermans stated.