Kochi, March 30 – It has been 3,654 days since the Indian men's national team last played in Kochi. The 10-year, 2-day wait for the Kerala fans will end when the Blue Tigers face Hong Kong, China, in their final Group D match of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday.
On March 29, 2016, a Sandesh Jhingan header had put India ahead against Turkmenistan in Kaloor, but the visitors responded with a couple of second-half goals to win the match. A small crowd of just over 3,000 people had turned up, but a much larger crowd is expected at the JLN on Tuesday when the Blue Tigers return.
While it may have been a decade since India last played in Kochi, the last time India won a game there remains a mystery.
During the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, India played against many top teams, including those from Italy, Hungary, Morocco, Uruguay, Algeria, Iceland, Korea Republic, Uzbekistan, Ghana, Iraq, and China, in the Nehru Cup in Kochi. However, India could not secure a win against any of these teams.
Tuesday could be a historic day. It could be the first time the Blue Tigers win in Kochi, the first time India wins in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, and the first home win for Khalid Jamil since taking over as head coach last August.
While India might not qualify for the next Asian Cup, the message from the camp is clear: focus on strong performance and deliver at home.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, head coach Khalid Jamil emphasized the importance of the match.
"This is a very important match for us," he said. "We need to take it seriously. We are ready for this game, and we need your support, especially this time."
"We should not dwell on the past. Even though we might not qualify, we want to finish on a positive note."
Hong Kong arrives with a relatively new setup, different from the side led by Ashley Westwood that won a penalty against India in Kowloon last year. Roberto Losada was appointed head coach last December, and this will be his first official match in charge of Hong Kong. However, India are not focusing on analyzing the opposition.
"They are a good team," Jamil said. "They have a new coach. We don't have much information about them. So, we need to focus on our own game. That will be best for us."
Jamil expressed his excitement about the national team playing in Kochi after 10 years. "We are very happy to be here. Kerala has produced many good players. It's always a great feeling to play here."
Forward Edmund Lalrindika, who accompanied Jamil in the press conference, echoed that sentiment.
"Tomorrow, we will be playing in Kerala, which is one of the best footballing states in India," he said. "I'm really excited. Hopefully, with the support of our fans, we can get a good result."
India has spent the past week in camp building towards this fixture, with a renewed focus on cohesion after a four-month break.
"The team has been preparing well," Lalrindika said. "Everyone is ready. We are focused and prepared to fight for a good result. The coach understands the players well. He is demanding but also gives us freedom. Everyone supports each other. We are ready to fight for our country," the East Bengal FC player added.
India has scored two goals in five games during this qualifying campaign. Addressing the scoring concern, Jamil said, "We are aware of our problem. But we have to work with the players available. Now, we have players like Rahim (Ali), Manvir (Singh), Edmund (Lalrindika), Farukh (Choudhary), and (Ryan) Williams. We need to find the right combination for that position."
"Player selection is based on recent performances in the ISL. Those who are doing well for their clubs get the call-up to the national team," Jamil added.
Hong Kong arrived in India on Friday, and have held three training sessions in Kochi. In the pre-match press conference, head coach Roberto Losada said, “We arrived here a few days ago, and we are very happy to be here. Everything has been very smooth since our arrival, and everyone has taken great care of us. Hopefully, everyone can watch a good game and enjoy a great atmosphere with both teams.”
Sharing his thoughts on the home side, Losada added, "We have followed India throughout the qualification campaign. We have seen the players they have used and the changes under the new coach. We have some information, but just like them, we don’t know exactly what to expect.”
Hong Kong winger Sun Ming Him, who plays for Chinese side Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, said, "It is our first match under the new interim coach, and naturally, it has been a bit challenging because we have had limited time to adapt to a new system. The facilities here in Kochi are excellent. The food, the training ground, and the hotel have all been very good. We feel comfortable, and it has helped us prepare well for the match.”
