India's chief football coach Stephen Constantine voiced his support for the All India Football Federation's decision to pull out of the LG Cup in Vietnam, saying otherwise the domestic calendar would have gone haywire.
"I'm disappointed that India will not be able to defend the title. But I think that the AIFF has taken the right decision. Had we played, the domestic calendar would have gone topsy-turvy. Also, we would have landed in Vietnam without adequate preparation," Constantine said in Kolkata on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi had announced India's decision to withdraw from the tournament, in which it recorded its only major international triumph in three decades last year.
The AIFF was peeved about the tournament being advanced from September to August, which did not leave much time for adequate preparation of the team because of the packed domestic calendar.
As per the revised schedule, the tournament will now be held from August 22 to 31, shortly after the Federation Cup, which will be starting in Kolkata from July 25.
Constantine, who apparently played a key role in impressing upon the AIFF to pull out of the tournament, said: "The decision shows good understanding and cooperation among all those concerned with Indian football."
He said had India played, the state associations, which have finalised their own local league schedules, would have landed in a spot.
Constantine, who completes one year as India's chief coach in four days time, said it is for the country's sports buffs to judge his contribution thus far.
"Irrespective of the results, I always tell myself that I can do better. I'm never satisfied. As a professional coach I am continuously trying to broaden my learning. But I think people are the best judge," he said.
Constantine, under whose tenure India won the LG Cup before holding a World Cuppers-studded Jamaican team to a draw in England and put up a creditable performance in the Busan Asiad, said: "Our good show in Vietnam and England proved that India has the talent."
He, however, said only talent cannot ensure continuity of success, "as so many other things need to be done".
Asked about reasons for the decline in India's performance this year, when the team did poorly in the SAFF Cup, Asia Cup and pre-Olympics, Constantine said: "I don't think one should play in poorly-organised tournaments like the SAFF Cup in Dhaka."
He said India, who finished third in Dhaka, were not given proper training facilities, while the attitude of the organisers left much to be desired.
"I was also humiliated," he alleged.
As for the Asia Cup, where India bowed out in the first round, losing to North Korea, Constantine said, "Unfortunately, we were pitted against one of the strongest sides in the tournament. But still the way the Indian team played was praiseworthy."
