Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia said the I-League has failed to connect with the spectators and has not been popular.

Kolkata: Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Tuesday said the national team should target being among the top-10 countries in Asia, and believes improvement could only be achieved through the success of the under-15 and the under-17 teams.

"Through the under-15, under-17, we are going to develop so that within the next 10 to 15 years we can be in one of the top 10 teams in Asia. Let's not talk about the World Cup and be unrealistic," Bhutia told reporters here at a Walk For a Cause media conference where he has been roped in as a goodwill ambassador.

Elaborating he said: "We are now spending on the youth, at the moment we should give strong support, money to grassroot development."

'Credit Constantine for SAFF Cup triumph'

The 39-year-old congratulated national team head coach Stephen Constantine on winning the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup. India beat Afghanistan to win their seventh SAFF Cup.

"In the SAFF games, we have seen a lot of new players have been brought in. We have to congratulate Stephen on the success and for getting in guys like Lallianzuala (Chhangte). He was also under a lot of pressure after the World Cup qualifiers but he has now won the SAFF with so many new players, so we must give him credit," Bhutia said.

"It is all on the training camps. If Stephen gets time to prepare players, India will have results. Ultimately, if the national team does well, Indian football will progress. If national team does not do well, I-League, ISL -- nothing will succeed."

Bhutia clarified the I-League has failed to connect with the spectators and has not been popular, but added the All India Football Federation (AIFF) should take steps to improve it.

"I-League is deteriorating in terms of crowd and fan following. We should not forget I-League has produced many players. There's no doubt that the competition and the standard of the league has increased but in terms of popularity and crowd it hasn't happened," he said.

"For the federation, I-League is very important. Whoever wins it can play in the Asian Football Confederation Cup (AFC) and all, so it is a very important tournament. The clubs and the federation should work towards the betterment of I-League. Even though we have ISL now, the federation should support the I-League."

'ISL a success'

He said the Indian Super League (ISL) has been successful in popularising the

game as "parents want their kids to now play football after watching the league".

"ISL is there to popularise the game. I think a part of the revenue from it is going

to the federation to help the I-League clubs, so that helps," said the AIFF advisor.

"From next year we hope to have clubs from Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir," he

added about possible clubs which can be brought into the I-League.

Bhutia also opined the World Cup qualifiers were difficult and the team was under

prepared. India have lost five of the six 2018 World Cup qualifiers and have no

chance of advancement.

"World Cup qualifier, it is not about the recent one, previously also we have played

and not done well. We did not do well when even I was in the team, we did not

make it to the second round. This time it was a difficult group that they had and

they

went in under prepared," said Bhutia, scorer of 40 international goals from 104

games.

Hero I-League 2015-16 Analysis Preview: Team Shillong Lajong FC

Shillong Lajong FC kick off their I-League 205-16 campaign on 10th January

Shillong Lajong FC have retained the coach THANGBOI SINGTO despite finishing just 1 spot above the relegation zone. This will be the 3rd season for Singto , and the pressure is on him with Karim Bencharifa sniffing around the scenes for a quick return to India.

The clubs limited resources have been given a boost by some more investment from existing shareholders Anglian Football. They now have almost a controlling stake, and the influx of funds has enabled them to sign a few foreigners.

On the Indian front they have reaped the benefits of a Youth Development Program that was put in place 5 years back ,with a lot of their U17 & U19 players having graduated to the 1st team. With impressive showing in the PSL, where they retained their title beating experienced local teams like Royal Wahingdoh & Rangdajied, the YDP s already showng great results.

Goalkeeping : The return of Gumpe Rime as GK coach is a massive boost , but he will have his work cut out in moulding the young GK’s : Vishal Kaith & Kunzang Bhutia into reliable shot stoppers . They are unlikely to miss the erratic TP Rehenesh , as the two youngsters are more than capable of matching the formers exploits.

DEFENCE : They have strengthened their Indian contingent in this area with the signing of TFA pairing Aibanbha & Chinglensana. But both of these youngsters lack pace ,and are liable to give away cheap free kicks / penalties as well as being out-muscled by traditional Nigerian power forwards in the league.

Lajong will miss their rock at the back , Minchol Son, who chose to move on after making his mark at the club. His replacement Yusuke Yamagata is more cultured on the ball , but isn’t as assured in the air, and his pace will be tested by the likes of some of the quicker strikers in the Hero I-League 2015-16.

Aibor Khongjee returns from winning the SAFF Cup , but Lajong’s most expensive player is injury prone, and will once again be the weak link at the back due to his inconsistency.

Man to watch out for: Nim Dorjee Tamang is the star performer, will he continue to develop as he has ?

MIDFIELD : Having lost the ‘evergreen’ Penn Orji, Lajong have to rely on their young Mizo midfielders to win the balls and start their attacks. The likes of Joseph Lalfakzuala and Jacob Lalrawngbawla impressed last season , but struggled for pace , and will continue to make mistakes as they grow & learn. Neither are good in the air , and this is an area that needs strengthening.

The likes of Boithang Haokip, Bipin, Redeem, Rupert will provide the necessary width and variety in the midfield, but they lack the defensive abilities as shown last season.

FORWARDS : The two Brazilians Uilliams & Fabio will be expected to propel Lajong out of the relegation zone, but as the former has shown, he is extremely inconsistent and injury prone. Cornell Glenn single handedly kept Lajong up in the past two seasons, and you take away his goals , its tough to see how they manage to average 1.5 goals a game without their Talismanic Trinidadian.

Their young Mizo striker did very well in the Shillong Premier League, but scoring against Meghalaya teams and recruiting that in the cauldrons of Kolkata are complete different ball games.

Shillong are likely to once again throw in some virtuoso performances like their 6-Nil demolition of Mumbai FC, but are equally likely to suffer similar defeats like their 1st half capitulation against Pune FC last season.

Prediction : 8th, their only hope will be to finish above Aizawl FC

Hero I-League 2015-16 Standings

Hero I-League 2015-16 season kicks off on 9th January 2016. The detailed I-League league table or I-League Standings including the premier football clubs of India is given above. The participating clubs are Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Shillong Lajong FC, Salgaocar FC, Mumbai FC, Bengaluru FC, Aizawl FC, Sporting Clube de Goa and DSK Shivajians.

The Hero I-League 2015-16 Table Standings is given above. Find out the position of I-League clubs from the table given above.

Hero I-League 2015-16 fixtures and schedules for upcoming matches. The I-League schedules are subject to change and will be reflected as and when the changes are made. You can select a particular Indian football club to see its recent form, upcoming matches, past results and position in the Indian Football League table.