India's academies do not provide fitness training: Koevermans

Indian football needs strong infrastructure in terms of training, stadiums and youth academies to create a team that is capable of competing in the Asian level, said Wim Koevermans, coach of the national football team.
Speaking at a discussion session organised by the German Embassy Koevermans said, India needs a considerable amount of youth development programs to produce strikers or mid-fielders of international standards.
"We are trying to make it possible here with IFA but you cannot expects results over night, I admit that there is a huge gap at this level," he said.
"The Indian players are talented enough, but the game requires a lot of fitness and training which the Indian youth academies do not provide," he added.

Advocating the need for more football training academies, the national coach reiterated that the game needs to build up from the grass root levels and develop the players in the age groups between 6-12.
"Only then will the game grow," the Dutchman said.
Speaking about having a football league like the IPL he said, "for that you need international players and a huge infrastructure".