This is a time to trust the new generation of players: Crispin Chetri

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.