Coach Stefanowski must find new strikers

Time goes by so fast, in   less than two months time, the new head coach of Nepal Jack Stefanowski and his deputy Richard Orlokiski   will take charge of their first assignment.

The national team of Nepal   will compete in   the   AFC Challenge   Cup 2014   qualifiers Group D at home. They take on Palestine, Bangladesh and debutants Northern Mariana Islands.

Since their arrival in Kathmandu, they have been working at a frantic pace to get things started and keep things rolling, as well. With the AFC Challenge Cup close on the heels, they are in the business   of selecting the team for the competition.

The   forty plus players summoned for the   close camp is a mix of old and new players. No major surprises.  By and large, the selection was based on careful consultation with local coaches and players’   performance in the ongoing Kathmandu A Division league and   recent   internationals.

The newly appointed American   coach   is yet to familiarize himself with   football in   Nepal. Given the situation, he is trying to do his   very best. It is very important that he understands   players   and   at the same time keep   them   motivated and enthusiastic   to reach their goals.

He has little choice but to go with players at his disposal. I don’t blame him because he did/ does not have the   time   and resources to think and decide who to pick and who not to pick.

Having said that, the coaching   duo   must pick the best players available, depending   on   their   strategy and   preferred formation.  Also it is equally important that they are not   affected by outside influences (as is often the case) when it comes to team selection.

It is increasingly becoming obvious that   the responsibility   of coaching in a country like ours is extremely   challenging   and   demanding.

Like home-grown coaches,   foreign coaches face similar challenges,  and  coaching  success largely hinges on  many variables  like training facilities  and infrastructure, domestic football structure , functioning of football association, football scouting system, coaching staff, grass roots  level football, football academy, international exposure, management support, nutritional and health aspect .

In addition, the national team   is dogged by poor preparation, which includes lack of meaningful friendly   international matches for the most part.

The matter of fact is that   the national team has long lagged behind in football over the past few decades.

No doubt in my mind that Nepal can make a comeback at least in South Asia provided there is proper and healthy developmental environment. Otherwise, the struggle will continue.

With two international competitions   taking place in   Nepal, the host    enjoys   a substantial home field advantage. Head Coach   Stefanowski and his boys need to do a much better job to make the most of the home advantage.

Going to the most recent result at home, Nepal has faltered badly. The   2012 AFC Challenge Cup was a disaster for the home team, finishing last in the group and failing to score a single goal in three matches.

Nepal’s misery compounded further in the   2012 Nehru Cup. They finished at the bottom and scored one goal in three matches. Prior to that, in   the 2011 SAFF Championship Nepal    could only score on three occasions in four matches.

Apparently, the   goal scoring percentage has dipped   dramatically to about 88.5 percent, the lowest level I can recall. The team’s inability   to score goals is a major concern and needs to be dealt with accordingly.

Coach   Stefanowski   has to address the weak offense that has simply struggled to score goals. Evidently, there   is   a   need   for   high scoring   quality strikers on   whom the team can rely on.  The present crops    of      strikers   have been woefully inconsistent over the years.

It is high time to do something. Even if it means trying out new players, it must be done. The two upcoming friendlies against Pakistan   serve as a great opportunity to try out and groom new young players.

I am not an expert by any means, but just a thought.  I am fully aware   that head coach Stefanowski and his coaching staff are there for the best interest of the team and players. I am confident that they will approach the challenge in the best way possible.