TIMNAS India go to Asian Cup 2023 after performing superbly in the third round of the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers. However, bad news has spread with India qualifying.
Indian media, the Times of India, reported that the Football Association of India (AIFF) hired a shaman to qualify for the Blue Tigers, India’s nickname. The AIFF is said to have spent up to 16 lakhs, or about IDR 328 million.
“(AIFF) has hired a [ahli nujum] to support the Indian national team in the Asian Cup qualifiers. It was later discovered that the support team that was brought in were astrologers,” an insider of the team was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
India appeared very skillful in Group D. In a group with Hong Kong, Cambodia and Afghanistan, India managed to wipe out three matches with one victory.
India also qualified as one of the six group winners. In contrast, the Indonesian national team qualified as one of the top five finalists.
Meanwhile, the Indian player, who did not want to be named, admitted he had never heard of this shaman. Because it was too late to join the Blue Tigers.
“At least I never heard of it because I also joined the Indian national team late,” said the Indian player.
The news of this shaman hire was also commented on by former Indian guardian, Tanumoy Bose. He gave a scathing review of this news as it further tarnished the name of the AIFF.
