THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Gouramangi Singh: We didn't play as a team

Team India

Team India

The Indian national team will face 2010 FIFA World Cup participants DPR Korea in the final Group B match at the AFC Challenge Cup 2012 on Tuesday. The Indian team is already out of contention to advance to the semifinals after two defeats against Tajikistan and the Philippines.

“We didn’t play as a team,” defender Gouramangi Moirangthem Singh told after the Indian team’s training session.

“The coordination and understanding wasn’t there. We are a young side, we need to develop as a team – that too, fast,” Mangi added.

India coach Savio Medeira is asking his players and fans to look forward and not sink into mutual recrimination.

“Whatever had happened is past. We need to look forward”, Savio said. “All of us need to support each other and see that whatever mistakes we have committed in the past shouldn’t be repeated.”

Talking about the final group match, Savio continued: “DPR Korea are the toughest opponent. As they have already qualified for the semis, they would not be under any pressure. We still have many things to prove.”

“All of us need to do a lot of introspection and then come to a conclusion. We have to take a step forward for the betterment of football in India,” the Indian coach added.