Mumbai: Striker Balwant Singh said that the Indian football team need more exposure against strong teams in order to improve their standard. India had attained their highest position (96th) in the FIFA rankings earlier this year but at the year-end they have dropped to the 105th spot.
“Everyone are doing their work – from the coaching staff to all the players. Hopefully, we’ll get good results. We should play more international matches against the good teams; it will help us improve,” Balwant told this agency, Tuesday. “And for the youngsters, they are getting many chances so they should take those with both hands and capitalise on it.”
The biggest success story in Indian football of the year was qualifying for the 2019 Asia Cup after missing out on the 2015 edition. They have qualified for the continental showpiece only three times (1964, 1984 and 2011).
“We are happy to qualify for Asian cup 2019 and hopefully, we’ll achieve good results in the main event because everyone is working hard and motivating the other,” the former Mohun Bagan ace, who made his international debut in 2014, added. Balwant, however, is currently playing for Chennaiyin FC in the ISL.
Balwant singled out the goal which he scored on his debut against Mauritius as his most memorable one. “For country, when I scored my first goal for the senior side, it was indeed a memorable moment. It was a great feeling and I felt very proud having scored wearing the blue Indian jersey,” stated Balwant.
“As for the most memorable while playing for a club, it’ll be hard to single out but there have been many with the likes of Churchill brothers, Mohan Bagan, and I scored against East Bengal twice,” he added.
