Mehrajuddin Wadoo addressing a press conference from when he was the interim head coach of Hyderabad FC (Source: ISL)
Former Indian Football Team defender Mehrajuddin Wadoo believes that players of Indian origin (PIO) should be incorporated into the footballing setup if the Blue Tigers are to pose a greater challenge to their ever-improving counterparts in Asia and beyond going forward.
Last week, the Indian Football Team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Singapore on Matchday 4 of the AFC Asian Cup Qualification. The loss dashed their hopes of qualifying for the coveted continental championship that will take place in 2027 in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking exclusively to Sportshadow, Mehrajuddin Wadoo said, “PIO players are our own, and we must take proactive steps to bring them on board, just like every other Asian team is doing.”
Currently, the FIFA rules require a player to possess the passport of the country that they represent, which effectively dampens their hopes of playing for India without renouncing their foreign citizenship. However, the National Sports Policy 2025 is said to be proactively nudging sporting federations to recruit PIO/OCI athletes.
Danny Batth, Yan Dhanda, and Arjan Raikhy, amongst many others who have Indian origin, have been starring in European football off late. A slight policy tweak on that front could immediately help uplift the quality of the Blue Tigers, as per Mehrajuddin Wadoo.
Sunil Chhetri in action while training for Bengaluru FC
The calls to rope in international know-how on this front have been expedited by the poor outings of the Indian Football Team in recent games. Their last five matches saw them net merely five goals.
In the last year and a half, there have been abundant instances of indecisiveness in terms of shaping India’s attacking arsenal. Leading goal-scorer Sunil Chhetri hung up his boots amidst much fanfare in mid-2024, but was recalled into the setup by then-head coach Igor Stimac after seeing his promising form in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25.
Chhetri continued to be in and out of the setup under Khalid Jamil, but a positive end product of his presence could not be felt, even against Singapore.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo feels that Jamil should work towards optimising the resources he has at hand. Khalid Jamil must play with the cards he has been dealt with, because pinning the blame on Chhetri’s underperformance would not take the side a long way anyway.
“The coach has to work with whatever resources are available. We can’t keep saying we don’t have anyone apart from Sunil Chhetri. The time has come to get the best out of our attacking players and build confidence in them,” Mehrajuddin Wadoo said.
Naushad Moosa is the current Indian Football U-23 team coach
The 41-year-old, who represented top teams such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mumbai City FC, amongst others during his playing days, feels that this is the right time to breed in younger talent from the junior teams.
The Indian U-23 Football Team defeated Brunei 6-0 under the tutelage of Naushad Moosa recently, and they are gearing up actively for the Asian Games challenge that awaits them in 2026. Wadoo said that it’s about time that players from that squad are tracked into the senior side.
He also demanded better planning from the think-tank, keeping in mind the opposition that they are poised to encounter in the forthcoming fixtures. A blend of seasoned stars coupled with the youthful exuberance of the U-23 side is what could set India up for a better future ahead, in his words.
“More than just intensity, I feel we need to plan better according to the team we are facing. Players must clearly understand their roles and responsibilities on the pitch. In my opinion, it would be better to bring in a few players from the U-23 team while retaining senior players who fit well into the coach’s system.
"The U-23 players have shown some promising signs recently, and integrating them gradually could strengthen the team for the future,” Mehrajuddin Wadoo said.
Mohun Bagan Super Giants refused to release their players for the CAFA Nations Cup as it didn't fall inside the international window
Coming back to the Singapore clash, India dearly missed the presence of towering defender Sandesh Jhingan, who received a red card in the previous game. While Rahul Bheke, Valpuia, Anwar Ali, and Subhasish Bose marshalled the defence, Jhingan’s leadership in the backline could have been pretty handful in the crucial second half.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo acknowledges that, but he rues the fact that the players who got a chance ahead of the FC Goa star were unable to optimise the opportunities coming their way.
“Yes, Sandesh is one of the key players with immense experience in playing big games. He has been representing the team for years, earning the trust of both coaches and fans.
"However, I believe that when other players get their opportunities, they must step up and deliver when it matters most. Every player selected for the national team is there for a reason and has the potential to make an impact,” Mehrajuddin Wadoo remarked.
In the recent past, clubs like Mohun Bagan Super Giant have been reluctant to release Indian players outside the FIFA windows, with the CAFA Nations Cup being the most recent example.
Patriotism and commitment to the national team aside, these footballers are contracted athletes, and letting go of them beyond the stipulated time frame disturbs the club’s own preparations for their competitions. Mehrajuddin Wadoo corroborates that thought.
“I believe the country always comes first, no doubt about that. But releasing players outside the FIFA window can sometimes be challenging, as clubs are often in the middle of their own preparations and matches,” Mehrajuddin Wadoo said.
While Indian football works its way out of the imbroglio it finds itself embroiled in, voices like Wadoo bring a seasoned standpoint to most contentious issues, including thoughts that could be reined in and acted upon for the greater good of the sport in the country.
This is an exclusive article by Sportshadow.com. Organizations using quotes from the article are requested to credit the original source and give a backlink to the article or the homepage.
