Bhangra in West Indies

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9th June 1984 went down as one of the most historic days of Indian Football.

The city of San Fernando played host as a lowly ranked Indian National Team beat the Soca Warriors of Trinidad & Tobago on their home turf 1-3.

Twenty-seven years later, the story is much the same. 153rd ranked India have travelled to the Caribbean to take on St. Kitts and Nevis (122) on August 17, Guyana (116) on August 21, with the showpiece game being played on August 24, against Trinidad and Tobago, ranked 88th in the world.

India Coach Armando Colaco will have a full strength squad to choose from as he continues to impress his version of tiki-taka, used so successfully in the I-League by his club Dempo.

They say you are as good as your last match and India will be quite confident after their 2-2 draw against Asian giant U.A.E in New Delhi last month. The Bhangra Boys’ star has been on the rise since the reign of former coach Bob Houghton.

They successfully defended their Nehru Cup triumph of 2007 in 2009 and by winning the AFC Challenger Cup the previous year, India recorded their place in the Asia Cup after last playing in 1984.

However, as pointed out by the former coach during the Asia Cup, the lack of infrastructure back home has crippled the country’s football development. Hoping to address that crisis, Colaco’s men have set up a host of International friendlies as they mount a surge up the FIFA rankings.

Qualifications for 2014 are history now and we look forward to a new look Indian team, that will soon be challenging for top honors. Until then, Joga Bonito.