I want to finish this job, take India U-17 to the World Cup: Bibiano

Panaji: It has been a steady rise in profile for Bibiano Fernandes since he took over India juniors in 2016, so it’s no surprise that he has had some clubs knocking on his door.
The India under-17 coach has been sounded out by clubs for a coaching vacancy in the I-League and even as an assistant to foreign coaches in the Indian Super League (ISL), but there’s unfinished business with India juniors.
“I want to finish this job, take India to the World Cup,” Bibiano told TOI at the AIFF training centre in Fatorda. “We have a dream, and now we have another opportunity to make our dreams come true.”
India have been at two FIFA U-17 World Cups, boys and girls, both as hosts, but no coach has come closer to qualification, on merit, than the former Sporting Clube de Goa midfielder.
In 2018, India were one game away from qualification, losing the quarterfinal clash against powerhouses South Korea. Two years later, Bibiano helped India make it to the Asian Cup again as group toppers ahead of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Bahrain, but Covid-19 played spoilsport as the tournament was eventually cancelled.
Now, having taken the team to yet another Asian Cup, to be played in June, he’s dreaming again.
“In the first batch, when we started and reached quarters (in 2018), that gave us hope. We started believing that we had a chance to qualify for the World Cup. This dream has kept me going. The belief (within the team) is strong,” said Bibiano.
After completing his AFC A license, the former midfielder took charge of the under-16 team in 2016 and since then, both have made quite some progress.
“If I see my first batch’s matches, I don’t want to watch those games anymore,” says Bibiano. “Football has changed so much, that’s why what you see now is a different team. The talent is the same (with all batches) but what we have learned from past experiences, we apply with these boys. We know the profile of players needed to play at the Asian level.”
The current batch has been together since May last year and has kept punching above its weight.
At the Asian Championships, India finished second-best in the group behind Saudi Arabia – who they lost 1-2 – but did more than enough to nose ahead of Kuwait (3-0), Maldives (5-0) and Myanmar (4-1).
There have been encouraging results against UAE U-20 and Uzbekistan U-17 too.
“We are looking forward to the draw. We know whoever is in our group, there won’t be an easy game. Whether we get Japan, Australia or (hosts) Thailand, it will be tough.
“We have to be at our best all through. The first target will be to qualify for the knockouts as one of the two-best teams (in the group), and then we have the experience from the first batch to handle the quarterfinal clash,” said Bibiano.
For India to qualify, they must make the semi-finals.
In 2018, they came close.
Having lost against South Korea in the quarterfinal, India saw Tajikistan get the better of the Asian heavyweights on penalties and seal a final clash against Japan.
Just a few months earlier, Bibiano’s boys had defeated Tajikistan 4-2 with goals from Lalchhanhima Sailo, Shabas Ahmed, Givson Singh and Rohit Danu to win the Four-Nation Invitational Tournament in Serbia.
“That Tajikistan made it to the Asian final and qualified for the World Cup that year gives us a little bit of hope. When it comes to competitions, we need that sort of mentality. I believe we have a chance,” said Bibiano.