MARGAO
Kerala Blasters FC assistant coach Ishfaq Ahmed said that the team benefited from the performances of their young Indian players.
This season, because of the four foreigners’ rule, many Indians excelled under head coach Ivan Vukomanovic’s guidance, Ahmed said. Speaking on the way forward for their development, the tactician remarked: “Well, for one side, it’s great for Indian football because it pushes you to produce more young talents. Even now if you see the rule of every season, you need to have at least four development players in your squad, at least two development players on the team-sheet. It pushes you as a club to invest more and develop younger players because they are the future of Indian football.
“When you develop those players in a certain or correct way, these players will grow up and be part of the Indian national team Our coach has brought lot of positivity and energy in the squad," he said.
When asked what went wrong in the final against Hyderabad FC, the former winger, said, "I think we were the better team in the final but tiebreaker never tells you the true story. Our opponents kept calm in the penalty shootout to annex their maiden title. I congratulate Hyderabad for winning the title."
A former Dempo SC winger, Ahmed lauded Goa for successfully hosting the league. "Goa has done a perfect job on the conduct of the ISL. It's not an easy job with all the pandemic restrictions and protocols ... it's been absolutely a perfect organisation,” Ahmed said.
“Since my stint with Dempo there have been a lot of positive changes here. The infrastructure has been increased, there are so many grounds having all the necessary facilities. The ISL had required modern facilities to play on a stretch until it concluded,” Ahmed said.
“In the last season, the story of Kerala Blasters was very disappointing. The local and as well as foreign players underperformed throughout the tournament. They did not play to their calibre and tamely lost matches when we were in winning positions. You have to be consistent in ISL or else you get punished,” he said.
