Ray Sportz Web Desk: The Indian women’s football coach talks to Ray Sportz about new faces, tactical shifts, and the road to the AFC Championship.
As the Indian women’s football team gears up for a series of international friendlies — and a possible European tour — head coach Crispin Chetri is focused on shaping a new generation of players. With several senior members unavailable and fresh faces joining the camp, Chetri sees this phase as a crucial rebuilding window ahead of the AFC Championship in March.
In an exclusive conversation with Ray Sportz, the coach opens up about the team’s ongoing preparations, tactical experiments, injury updates, and the growing belief in women’s football in India.


Ray Sportz: Coach, before going to play the friendlies, how is the preparation going?
Crispin Chetri: The preparation is going quite well. Although four players are yet to report, the rest are showing great progress. Since East Bengal players are currently involved in the Champions League, we haven’t called them up. But I’m happy with the commitment and performance of the players who are here.
Ray Sportz: Before the team leaves for the friendlies abroad, is there any plan to play a practice match here in India?
Crispin Chetri: Yes, we plan to play one or two practice matches before leaving. But first, we want all the players to join the camp. These matches will help us assess the players’ fitness and team coordination. We might play against a boys’ under-16 or under-17 team, depending on availability.
Ray Sportz: There’s news that the team may travel to Europe for friendlies. Can you confirm that?
Crispin Chetri: Yes, it’s true that we are planning to go to Europe, but it’s not fully confirmed yet. We still need to complete visa and other formalities. If everything goes well, we’ll play two or three matches there.
Ray Sportz: We have seen some new faces in the team. What’s your plan for the next two to three months?
Crispin Chetri: That’s a very good question. The absence of East Bengal players has opened opportunities for young players like Sushmita, Durga, and Jasodha. This window is perfect to evaluate and build a core group for the AFC tournament in March. The European tour will help us identify around 30 players who will form the main pool.
Ray Sportz: In previous matches, we saw a lack of aggression in the attacking line-up. Are you planning any tactical changes?
Crispin Chetri: Yes, we noticed that too. During the last window in October against Iran and Nepal, we tried different tactics, although the full squad wasn’t available. Now, we’re considering using Manisa as a number 9. With Soumya returning from injury, we’ll have more attacking options.
Ray Sportz: What’s the injury update on Anju and Sanju?
Crispin Chetri: Both are currently doing their rehabilitation. Anju should return to the field in a day or two, while Sanju might need a little more time. We don’t want to rush anyone back and risk further injury. By March, everyone should be fully fit.
Ray Sportz: India recently won the Women’s Cricket World Cup. Do you think that success can inspire athletes in other women’s sports, including football?
Crispin Chetri: Absolutely. The women’s cricket team has shown incredible resilience and determination. They’ve overcome many barriers, and that’s inspiring for all of us. Football has its own challenges, but this success gives our girls belief that they too can reach great heights — maybe even qualify for the World Cup one day.
Ray Sportz: Aveka Singh has recently joined your squad. How do you see her role in the team?
Crispin Chetri: I had only seen Aveka’s videos earlier, but now that she’s in the camp, I’m getting to watch her closely. She’s been impressive in training, though training and matches are very different. This camp is about giving opportunities to players — whether they’re based in India or abroad — who have worked hard to reach this level.
Ray Sportz: Finally, what message would you like to give to fans of Indian women’s football?
Crispin Chetri: This is a time of transition. We’re trying out new players and new strategies. It won’t be easy, but I have full faith in these young girls. If we stay patient and keep supporting them, they’ll take Indian women’s football to new heights.

Ray Sportz Web Desk: From a small village in Madhya Pradesh to the football fields of Europe, Jyoti Chauhan’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. The first Indian woman to score a hat-trick in European club football, Jyoti has now embarked on a new chapter with East Bengal FC. In a candid chat with Ray Sportz, the trailblazing forward opens up about her struggles, inspirations, her meeting with Luka Modric, and her dreams for Indian women’s football.
Ray Sportz: Jyoti, first of all, a new journey begins with East Bengal. How are you feeling?
Jyoti: I’m really happy and excited. Joining East Bengal feels like a new chapter in my career. I’ve been following this club for a while, and I can’t wait to play and make my contribution.
Ray Sportz: Everyone knows about your remarkable stint in Europe — becoming the first Indian to score a hat-trick there. How would you describe that experience?
Jyoti: When I first joined a European club, the weather and physical intensity were challenging. But my goal was to perform well so that people recognize that India also has talented footballers. It was tough at first, but once I adapted, I started to gain confidence and improve with every match.
Ray Sportz: How different is European football from Indian football?
Jyoti: The game there is faster, more physical, and the players are very strong technically. But it pushed me to raise my level and learn how to handle pressure. That experience has helped me a lot.
Ray Sportz: Why did you choose East Bengal after returning to India?
Jyoti: Kolkata is the heart of Indian football. I’ve seen East Bengal fans — their passion is incredible! I have some friends here too. When you play in front of such a crowd, it motivates you to give your best every time.
Ray Sportz: Tell us a bit about your football journey from the beginning.
Jyoti: I come from a small village called Sardarpur in Indore district. I started playing football in class four. Back then, no girls played football — I was the only one. The field was right behind my house, so I used to play there every day. In 2012, my father passed away, and that changed everything. I had to take care of my family and fight against social pressure. People used to say, “Girls shouldn’t play football.” But I wanted to prove them wrong.
Ray Sportz: How do those people treat you now?
Jyoti: (smiles) It’s funny! The same people who once criticized me now proudly say, “She’s from our village!” or “She’s our daughter.” That’s the best feeling — when your success changes people’s mindset.
Ray Sportz: You have tattoos of your parents. What’s the story behind them?
Jyoti: I’ve seen many players with tattoos of gods or quotes. But for me, my parents are everything. I had only one picture of my father, so I decided to make it permanent — this way, he’ll always be with me.
Ray Sportz: You met Luka Modric — what was that like?
Jyoti: Honestly, it was one of the best moments of my life! We trained on the same ground. He’s such a humble person. When I met him, he spoke to me for about 5–10 minutes, asking how football is in India and how I was feeling there. I couldn’t believe that a legend like him was talking to me. That meeting truly inspired me.
Ray Sportz: How has your European experience helped you as a player?
Jyoti: Playing in Europe made me stronger mentally and physically. Now, under Coach Anthony Koch at East Bengal, I’m improving further. He understands my game well and helps me work on specific areas. Our main goal is to qualify for the AFC Cup and perform well as a team.
Ray Sportz: You’ve recently joined the team — not much time to train. Are you confident?
Jyoti: Yes! I already know some players from the national team and a few new ones here. Everyone is supportive, and the environment is great. I’m confident we’ll build good chemistry soon.
Ray Sportz: East Bengal fans are known for their high expectations. Do you feel any pressure?
Jyoti: There’s pressure, yes — but it’s positive pressure. Fans’ energy motivates us. They come from far away, chant our names, and support us. That love keeps us going.
Ray Sportz: Recently, India’s women’s cricket team won the World Cup. Does that inspire you?
Jyoti: Absolutely! I was so happy watching them win. My dream is that one day, Indian women’s football will also reach the World Cup stage and make the country proud.
Ray Sportz: Thank you, Jyoti. All the best for the AFC campaign!
Jyoti: Thank you so much. We’ll give our best — and I hope to make our fans and country proud.

From the dusty fields of Sardarpur to the stadium lights of Kolkata, Jyoti Chauhan’s story is one of grit, faith, and fire. As she dons the red and gold jersey of East Bengal, her dream burns brighter — to take Indian women’s football to the world stage.

Ray Sportz Web Desk: Indian side FC Goa are set to face Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al Nassr FC in a crucial AFC Champions League Two Group D encounter at the Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on Wednesday night.
Buoyed by their recent domestic form, the Gaurs arrive with growing confidence after a strong Super Cup 2025 campaign — registering a 2–0 win over Jamshedpur FC followed by a 3–0 triumph against Inter Kashi. Head coach Manolo Marquez’s men will now look to carry that momentum onto the continental stage, having shown plenty of promise in earlier group matches despite narrowly missing out on points.
Their opponents, Al Nassr, featuring some of Asia’s biggest football stars, will be keen to respond after a turbulent week in domestic competition. The Riyadh-based giants suffered a King’s Cup exit to Al Ittihad but managed to edge past Al Fayha with a late penalty in their most recent league outing. Despite the mixed results, they remain one of the toughest teams to beat at home.
“This is a historic moment for us and for Indian football,” said Manolo Marquez ahead of the game. “We’ve come here with the intent to win and to make our supporters proud.”
Reflecting on the team’s preparations, he added, “We played practically two weeks ago at home, and now it’s completely different. We’ve had a busy schedule with the Super Cup — five games in just 14 days. So our approach has been step by step, game by game.”
Midfielder Borja Herrera echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying, “We train every day to be ready for every match and to give our best, especially for a big game like this.”
Manolo further emphasized the significance of the occasion: “It will be difficult, even without the three Super Cup games. But it’s a pleasure to play in a stadium like this. If we want to grow — not just as a club, but individually and collectively — these are the experiences we need.”
With rhythm restored and belief running high, FC Goa will aim to script another proud chapter for Indian football under the Riyadh lights — as they take on one of Asia’s most star-studded sides in what promises to be a memorable night.