Stimac wants India to be one of Asia's best: Bheke and Fernandes

Indian footballers Rahul Bheke and Brandon Fernandes says newly-appointed chief coach Igor Stimac wants the team to be one of Asia's best.

Stimac's appointment has been greeted with much optimism by the players, with as many as nine debutants having got a call-up to the national team camp.

Bheke, who scored the match-winner in the Indian Super Legaue final for his club Bengaluru FC against FC Goa stated that "Stimac wants us to be one of the best teams in Asia".

"We have had a couple of session under him (Igor Stimac), and he is really apprehensive of our abilities as a team. He wants us to target doing well in Asian tournaments, and be one of the best teams in Asia," Bheke said.

"I will keep doing what the coach asks of me and keep trying to work my socks off in his pattern of style of playing football."
"There are ups and downs in a player's life. I did not lose any hope when I was not called up. In fact, that motivated me to keep working hard to earn a call-up. I am very happy, but the real challenge for me begins now."