Former India coach Manolo questions players’ absence from camp ahead of international friendlies

Manolo Marquez was in charge of the Indian men’s national team from July 2024 to July 2025, during which the side won zero competitive matches | Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT

Former Indian football team head coach Manolo Marquez has questioned why all the players selected for the upcoming friendlies against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay have not joined the camp in Bengaluru.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday announced that 16 out of the 26-player squad selected have reported for the camp.

Players reported on September 15 (Tuesday)

Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Albino Gomes, Bijoy Varghese, Farukh Choudhary, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Irfan Yadwad, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Pramveer, Rahim Ali, Ricky Shabong, Som Kumar, and Vikram Partap Singh.

Players yet to report

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (East Bengal), Anwar Ali (East Bengal), Jay Gupta (East Bengal), Ricky Meetei Haobam (Bengaluru FC), Anirudh Thapa (Mohun Bagan), Ashique Kuruniyan (Bengaluru FC), Sahal Abdul Samad (Mohun Bagan), Edmund Lalrindika (East Bengal), Manvir Singh (Mohun Bagan), Ryan Williams (Bengaluru FC)

Marquez has questioned why the rest of the players, mostly from East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant have not arrived.

“The clubs had a meeting with AIFF to send the players on Sept 14th (FIFA window starts on 21st). East Bengal has to play AFC, no problem. But why not all other players are already in the National Team?,” Manolo wrote in a post on X.

“Only 16 are there. Who is interested to solve the problems in Indian football?,” he added.

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Mohun Bagan has come under the scanner for being at loggerheads with the AIFF for refusing to release its players earlier this year. Seven of its players were stopped from being part of India’s Unity Cup 2026 campaign in June, with MBSG saying that the tournament fell outside the the FIFA international window.

Manolo was in charge of the national team from July 2024 to July 2025, during which the side won zero competitive matches, despite Sunil Chhetri, India’s record goalscorer, coming out of retirement.

The Blue Tigers played eight matches under him, including friendlies, losing thrice and winning just once, a 3-0 victory over the Maldives. His last match was a 0-1 loss to Hong Kong, India’s first competitive defeat to the opponent in 32 years.

In July this year, he was appointed as the head coach of the Mumbai City FC on a one-year contract for the 2026-2027 Indian Super League season.