It is the morning after his Prathet Thai - League I.1 game that the India general manager has accepted to respond to several questions regarding the India national team situation and the recent events that has affected the nation.
Press: The Byakko Kingdom (Editor's note: Byakko Kingdom is the name of N#23 team in Thailand) has easily won their championship game tonight. What are your impressions?Number Twenty Three: How do you think I can feel after an easy victory? I'm satisfied but I'm already thinking about our next game. Regarding yesterday, we've played "D" like a serious pretender would have played. All the players are entirely focus on Thursday Cup game.
Press: It certainly seems that you'll finish the week with a rate of a 100% victory!N#23: That's not true. (
Taking a deep breathing) I'm still affected by what happened Monday.
Press: You are talking about the defeat of India against Pakistan (13708) in the Asian Championship Tournament?N#23: Of course! (
Putting his hand on his head) When analyzing the game, I still believe we could have won. I lacked a certain level on leading a national team. There is a proverb that says: "Mistakes are often the best teachers". Yes, I made mistakes: I didn't scrimmage the week India didn't have no official game to compete in, and took the wrong decisions against Pakistan. If the proverb his true, than I had the best teachers this past month, and they were me. (
Smiles) But then, it is up to me to be the best student that ever existed.
Press: The defeat against Pakistan has reduce your qualifying chances to half. But with the injury of C. Gopal Reddy (8195561) & D. Gnanam (10379824) the same week, it seems that a bad karma is floating above India!N#23: Let's be honest. These injuries represents big losses. The pool, the database, the list of best Indian players, call it whatever you want, is a real problem in small communities like ours. In Thailand, India, Sri Lanka... we all have the same problem: only a few number of competitive international players can justify an appointment. When one is missing, he cannot be replaced qualitatively by another one.
Press: So, what are your chances against New Zealand next Monday?N#23: I don't know. I not statistician or mathematician. I'm here to make my players play the best basketball they can provide. & I'm here to make India more important throughout the Buzzer Beater world. This passes necessarily through good results and a progression in the world ranking, but also through a good atmosphere in the community and more people involve on the forums and so on.
Press: But honestly, do you feel like still having a chance to qualify?N#23: I do believe in the potential of this country. It doesn't only depend on me. If that was the case, than I would have not applied for this post. It'll depend on every general managers that daily trains an Indian player. It'll depend on them to make the Indians progress or at least optimize their game shapes. Otherwise, regarding my degree of allocation, if all the ingredients are gathered, than yes we do have a serious go at it.
Press: Does that mean you are not the only responsible of India possible disqualification?N#23: Don't misinterpret. You have misunderstood the meaning of my words. I'm the only responsible on the ship. If it sinks, I'm the one to blame. If it floats, all the credit goes to all the ones that have contributed to the journey.
(The second part of the interview is available below)