The Indian national football team coach Igor Stimac recently revealed that he was intrigued to come to India only because of Indian President Mr. Ram Nath Kovind’s words at the India Croatia startup Webinar.
In that webinar, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind spoke about India’s offerings to the World and hearing the President of India speak about the country intrigued the Croatian tacticians to come to India. Mr. Raj Kumar Srivastava, India’s Ambassador to Croatia, was also present in the Webinar and played his role in bringing Stimac to India.
The former Croatian International feels lucky to have joined the Indian national team as head coach as he got to meet the ‘New India’.
“Two years ago, the President of India Mr. Ram Nath Kovind during his visit to Croatia had said: ‘Young people are the bearers of progress and innovation in the search for new solutions. I invite you to explore the new India. In accordance with my life motto, everything is possible with maximum effort and love for what you do.”
“The words of the President of India took me to India. Not just me but also several other Croatian football experts. The last 2 years I have been the football coach of the Indian National Football team and I have been lucky enough to meet the new India,” Stimac revealed.
The 53-year-old further added: “Today thanks to the cooperation agreement between the two Football Federations, it is more certain that more and more players and coaches from Croatia will go and participate in the realisation of the Indian football dream – participation in the World Cup.”
While in his two year stay Igor Stimac’s stint has not been all very rosy but he has imposed a different style of play among the Indian youngsters which will bear fruit in a few years. He also inspired the national team to hold out the Asian Champions, Qatar to a draw at their own den which is considered to be the best result of the Blue Tigers in recent times.
Stimac feels that in the modern generation of data science and technology in football, the new India needs to add a bit of Croatian football genius to their Indian guile and youthful exuberance.
“Football education is increasingly using science and modern technology in player training methods, and we know very well what new India represents in the sector today. It is up to us to add a bit of Croatian football genius to the Indian youth and intellect,” Stimac continued.
The Croat further stated how India and Croatia have been cooperating well on several fields starting from IT sector, pharmaceutical industry to tourism. He also added how the Indian spiritualism, yoga and music has been growing interesting among the people of Croatia. He wants to bring that development in football as well.
“Our countries have been cooperating in the field of education and culture for decades, and the growing interest of Croatian Associations in Indian spiritualism, yoga and music testifies to the civilisation influence of India.”
In recent years, we have witnessed better cooperation in tourism, the pharmaceutical industry and especially in the IT sector. I sincerely hope that webinars like this will result in excellent collaboration and that India and Croatia will soon be equally successful in the field of start-up ecosystem, and football,” Stimac concluded.
