Islamabad, Pakistan – On the morning of October 17, Stephen Constantine, the top coach of the Pakistan males’s soccer group, found that the squad had purchased him a cake for his 61st birthday.
Constantine, a strict disciplinarian, didn’t mince phrases: if the squad needed to want him a contented birthday, they need to get him a victory over Cambodia within the second leg of their Asian first-round 2026 World Cup qualifier, to be performed in Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports activities Stadium later that day.
And he added: there ought to be no cake on his face.
“Effectively, they ended up making historical past. Acquired me the win and went on to smash two muffins in my face,” Constantine laughingly recalled to Al Jazeera in an unique interview.
The 1-0 victory was Pakistan’s first win in three a long time of World Cup qualifiers; a monumental achievement for the group and Constantine himself, who had taken over as coach solely days earlier than their first leg in Cambodia.
Pakistan’s reward was a spot within the second qualification spherical, in a bunch together with Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Jordan.
Pakistan’s opener is a visit to play Saudi Arabia in Dammam on Thursday.
“I can solely communicate for myself, and for nonetheless lengthy I’m right here, however the days of Pakistan rolling over for any opposition are gone,” the bald, bespectacled coach mentioned with a steely resolve. “If you wish to beat us, you’ll have to earn that. We aren’t going to put down simply.”
Shaheens have landed in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦#pakistanfootball #dilsayfootball #shaheens #weare26 pic.twitter.com/iKFsUNzmVY
— Pakistan Soccer Federation (@TheRealPFF) November 11, 2023
Earlier than their World Cup qualifiers towards Cambodia, Pakistan had been on a 13-match shedding streak courting again to 2018.
The Pakistan Soccer Federation (PFF) has been banned by FIFA, soccer’s world governing physique, for political interference twice within the final six years. The nation hasn’t had a practical soccer league for greater than a 12 months attributable to an absence of funds and infrastructure points.
“For that first sport, I had a bunch of gamers of whom half hadn’t been coaching in any respect attributable to lack of soccer league, and the opposite half of them didn’t bear in mind the final time they performed in a aggressive sport,” the London-born Englishman mentioned.
Regardless of dealing with such adversity, Constantine’s costs had been capable of get a 0-0 attract Phnom Penh.
“With a bit of little bit of luck, may have even stolen it,” he mentioned.
Constantine brings a wealth of expertise and pedigree to the job.
Earlier than becoming a member of Pakistan, he had coached the nationwide sides of Nepal, Malawi, Sudan, Rwanda, and India (twice).
His most profitable tenure was with India throughout his second stint, taking them from 173rd in FIFA’s world rankings in 2015 to 97th by the top of 2018.
The next 12 months, India certified for the Asia Cup for under the fourth time of their historical past, with the second youngest squad within the match.
“I used to be teaching India after we performed Pakistan in September 2018, after we destroyed them 3-1, which ought to have been much more. From that squad, 14 boys ultimately made it to the group which certified for the Asian Cup. My focus has all the time been creating the youth group,” the coach mentioned.
Constantine recognises the challenges confronted by Pakistan, 193rd in FIFA’s rankings, of their match towards Saudi Arabia, who final 12 months shocked eventual winners Argentina 2-1 throughout their group stage match within the World Cup in Qatar.
The Inexperienced Falcons are at the moment ranked 57th on the earth and are coached by legendary Italian supervisor Roberto Mancini.
Constantine urged Pakistan followers to maintain their expectations in verify.
“I’m certain it will be an especially tough sport. They may put us beneath strain from the primary minute. I’ve already heard some predictions of the potential scoreline. In video games like these, you simply have to keep away from conceding early and see the way it goes. I promise we’ll battle,” Constantine mentioned in a matter-of-fact tone.
He additionally burdened that it’s an enormous alternative for Pakistan’s footballers to achieve expertise, and might help faucet into the rising recognition of the sport in Pakistan.
“One of many issues I mentioned to the boys earlier than we performed Cambodia in Islamabad, is that these are the video games that you simply wish to be a part of. This sport will actually resolve the way forward for Pakistan’s soccer. Had we not gained, I actually don’t know what would occur going ahead.”
For a rustic that had been starved of worldwide soccer for a very long time beneath the FIFA bans, the second spherical of qualifiers ensures no less than six matches.
After Saudi Arabia, Pakistan are set to play towards Tajikistan in Islamabad on November 21, whereas the remaining qualification matches will probably be performed subsequent 12 months in March and June. The highest two qualify for the third spherical of qualifiers, wherein 18 groups are cut up between three teams.
However contemplating the upheaval and uncertainty in Pakistan soccer, planning for the longer term will not be for the faint-hearted.
In reality, Constantine’s contract ended after the win towards Cambodia and has solely been prolonged till March, because the FIFA-led Normalisation Committee of the PFF is anticipated to carry elections for the federation that month.
The Englishman was pragmatic concerning the uncertainties, saying that every one he can do is put within the exhausting work, and attempt to get Pakistan again to “the place it ought to be”.
He burdened that the nation wants a functioning soccer league that permits gamers from totally different age teams to consistently compete and develop, and solely that may unlock the nation’s true potential.
“Look, I’m a realist. We aren’t going to the World Cup. We aren’t prepared for that. We may probably lose all six of those video games. However these six matches will form how we’re going to be as a group going ahead, and I’m right here for that,” he mentioned.
“I wish to construct for the longer term, not the previous. I don’t care how previous you might be. All I care about is: are you able to do what this group wants?”