Bahrain’s love and camaraderie surpassed any other overseas trip, according to Ranjit Bajaj, the manager of India’s national futsal team. The team’s time in the kingdom has resulted in a bond with the local team that goes beyond nationality, creating a true brotherhood, he observed.
Last week, the Indian team played two friendly matches against the Bahrain futsal team at the Khalifa Sports City, Isa Town. Despite losing their international debuts with scores of 0-3 and 0-4, the team views this opportunity as valuable preparation for the upcoming Asian Futsal Championship (AFC) 2024 Qualifiers. “We feel blessed and honored that our first ever match was with the Bahrain futsal team, one of the strongest in Asia, which is one of the powerhouses of the world in the sport,” Mr Bajaj told Bahrain This Week.
“So it was a great first international match for us; we could not have expected anything better. We are so happy that we came to Bahrain, as it feels like a second home for us now because of the amount of love we got in this country.”
Futsal is a thrilling indoor game that combines the excitement of soccer with the fast-paced action of basketball. Played on a smaller, hard court similar to a basketball court, this dynamic sport brings together two teams of five players, including a skilled goalkeeper. What sets futsal apart is the use of a smaller, harder ball with a lower bounce. This unique feature adds an extra level of challenge and precision to the game, making it a true test of skill and technique. With its quick pace and high intensity, futsal offers players and spectators alike a truly exhilarating experience. The smaller court size creates a more compact and dynamic playing environment, resulting in increased opportunities for thrilling goal scoring moments.
“We learn many lessons from the matches we play,” said Mr Bajaj. “I really believe that we never lose a match; we only learn, especially when it’s your first ever match. Bahrain has been playing active futsal since 2002, and we had three weeks before this tour. We are preparing for the first ever AFC Asian Cup 2024 Qualifiers, and I think it’s great preparation to play with one of the powerhouses of Asia.”
The AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024 Qualifiers are set to take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from October 7–11. India is pitted against Myanmar, Palestine, and the host nation, Tajikistan, in Group E. “Our impression of Bahrain is that of a home away from home,” said Mr Bajaj.
“We never felt like we were away from India, as the amount of love we got not only from fellow Indians but also from the Bahraini people was immense. I’ve been abroad with other teams as well, but the amount of love we got from the people of Bahrain could not be matched, so they are now our brothers forever.”
Bahrain, a seasoned team in the world of futsal, has participated in the AFC championship since 2002 and qualified for the past two AFC Futsal Asian Cups in 2018 and 2022. Mr Bajaj observed the strengths of the Bahrain futsal team, which he said has a great future.
“It is indeed a team that can do great things. All you need are a few good, solid players, and Bahrain has them. In fact, they’re a very humble team because all the players were trying to help our team because they knew this was our first experience and we were trying. This is great about the Bahraini people. It was more like a sense of camaraderie than competition.”
The goal of his team was to reach the World Cup, said Mr Bajaj, who credited the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) and its officials, President Kalyan Chaube and General Secretary Shaji Prabhakran for their efforts in promoting futsal. “India has a very bright future in futsal,” he added.
The 20-member pan-India team, representing 13 states of the nation, consists of 14 players, besides the manager, head coach Joshua Stan Vaz, and assistant coaches Akshay Sawant and Sumit Kumar. The two captains are Nikhil Mali (winger) and Augustine D’Mello (also goalkeeper), both from Maharashtra.
The others are Jagdish Tokas (goalkeeper); anchors – Sachin Patil, Sandeep Oraw, Aman Shah, Jayesh Sutar, Kashinath Rathod and Rajneesh; wingers – Shamshad Ali, Abhay Gurung, and Bijoy Gusai and pivots – David Laltlansanga and Sandesh Malpote. The players have been chosen based on the Futsal Club Championship, which happened earlier this year.
The team has another pair of friendly matches lined up this week against Iraq, back home. The team had also joined the celebrations of the 77th Indian Independence Day at the Indian Embassy in Seef.