Des Buckingham, Head coach of Mumbai City FC.| Photo Credit: SAKEER HUSSAIN

Des Buckingham took a courageous determination. He didn’t identify a single foreigner in Mumbai City’s squad for the Super Cup.

Remember, it was the abroad gamers, equivalent to Greg Stewart, Ahmed Jahou and Alberto Noguera, that had performed key roles within the group’s victory towards Jamshedpur AFC Champions League qualifier, at Manjeri, only a few days earlier than the Super Cup kicked off. His boys didn't let him down.

Mumbai could have didn't qualify for the semifinals, but it surely tied for the highest spot with NorthEast United and went out solely due to an inferior head-to-head document.

The 38-year-old coach doesn't imagine that profitable is every part. “At the club, we have got different targets, one of which is to develop Indian players,” Buckingham advised The Hindu.

“I am happy with the last two years and the progress that has been made. We use this tournament to give players an opportunity to showcase what they can do. And this will help us both now and in the future.”

He can also be delighted that Mumbai certified for the AFC for a second successive time. “It was a very special moment for all of us,” he mentioned.  “This will only be the third time that an Indian club is going to the AFC League and we have been fortunate that we have taken up two of those opportunities.”

Mumbai had executed properly on its debut within the match. “We became the first Indian club to win a game at the Champion’s League level,” he mentioned. “The tournament allowed us to showcase what Indian football can do and Indian players certainly can do at that level.”

Buckingham, who helped New Zealand qualify for the Olympics and likewise loved success in Australia’s A-League, believes India has the potential to do properly on the worldwide stage.

“I see a lot of similarities between India and New Zealand (and A-League and the ISL),” he mentioned. “I have been here for two years, I have seen enough players and they are more than capable of competing and challenging their peers on the international stage.”