Bhaichung Bhutia in a file picture. PTI
Bhaichung Bhutia has downplayed the latest growth round India males’s soccer staff coach Igor Stimac seeking advice from an astrologer earlier than deciding on the staff. Bhutia, former India captain, mentioned such superstitions are frequent in soccer, and cited examples from Kolkata and all over the world.
Lots of debates began when completely different information experiences revealed that Stimac had consulted Bhupesh Sharma, a Delhi-based astrologer, earlier than deciding on a squad for the Asian Cup qualifier towards Afghanistan in June final 12 months. Aside from this, former basic secretary of the All India Soccer Federation (AIFF), Kushal Das acknowledged he had launched Stimac to the astrologer.
Learn | Stimac breaks silence on astrologer controversy: ‘Time to put all cards on table’
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As per completely different experiences, Stimac despatched a listing of potential gamers to Sharma 48 hours earlier than the match and requested for his insights into the staff’s prospects. Sharma handed on his suggestions about every participant and so they have been thought-about by Stimac in the course of the staff’s choice course of.
This session was not a one-off, however the experiences recommend that nearly 100 messages have been exchanged between Stimac and Sharma in Could and June 2022. India had performed 4 matches, together with three Asian Cup qualifiers towards Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan, throughout that point.
Bhaichung Bhutia mentioned this can be a frequent apply. He advised India Today, “This is not a new thing. In fact, Brazilian coach (Luiz Felipe) Scolari used to follow such things a lot. Many world-renowned coaches especially African, American, and European coaches, used to follow this. South American and African countries also follow it a lot. They follow lots of astrologers. Scolari is one of the biggest examples. He decides the teams and all via astrologers.”
Bhutia additionally highlighted prevalence of superstitions in Kolkata soccer. He cited examples the place coaches Khalid Jamal and Subhash Bhowmick used to position flowers on the opponents’ goalposts – practices that have been all thought-about superstitious.
Bhutiya, who performed 82 video games for India, went on so as to add that the staff’s efficiency below Igor Stimac ought to be the primary level of dialogue and never the astrology speak or superstitious beliefs.
Former India gamers Gouramangi Singh and Steven Dias additionally gave their opinion on the controversial matter. Singh believes revealing India’s potential lineup with an exterior get together is a major problem. “More than player selection, the bigger issue is integrity. If the astrologer was given team lists, strategies, and other confidential details then it raises issues of propriety,” Gouramangi advised News18.
Dias, who coaches the reserve staff of Jamshedpur FC, mentioned choice on some other components however benefit is unfair.
“As a coach, I could never select a team based on astrological advice. I feel it’s not fair to the players. Moreover, sharing probable XI and team strategy with someone outside of the setup is absolutely wrong. You don’t know how that information can be used against you,” mentioned Dias to Information 18.