Brazilian goalkeeping coach of Pakistan national football team Rogerio Ramos spoke about the differences between Indian and Pakistani football.
Ramos has previously served as goalkeeping coach at Indian Super League sides Odisha FC and Mumbai FC and has extensive experience working with clubs such as EC Santo Andre SP and EC Novo Hamburgo RS in Brazil, Mahindra United and Vasco Sports Club in India, Young Inn Academy in South Korea and NEA Salamina in Cyprus.
He pointed out that when he started in India, the country already had organised leagues, well-functioning clubs and players playing regularly.
He noted that this structure is very important for national team coaches to observe, coach and analyze the players.
In contrast, he stressed that Pakistan currently lacks such a structured environment, which hinders the exposure and development of its players.
“India is in a better situation than Pakistan because when I took over, India already had a league organised, clubs were being run properly and players were competing. We need to make sure that players are playing matches every week so we can observe them, coach them and analyse them but that is not the case in Pakistan so far,” Ramos said in an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune.
“Players are not getting the exposure and game time they need to showcase their talent and that’s why I think Pakistan players are not as good as the Indian players at the moment,” he added.
Despite facing criticism from friends and supporters over his move to Pakistan, Ramos remains determined and hopeful, stressing that football can bridge gaps and foster mutual respect.
“I know some of my friends and supporters will not be happy that I got a job in Pakistan, but I am happy because football has the power to break down these barriers,” he said.
In 2023, Pakistan men’s football team made history by beating Cambodia 1-0 in Islamabad to reach the second round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
However, in the second round they faced tough opponents such as Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Jordan, losing all six games and finishing last in Group G.
Ramos believes those losses were down to the caliber of opponents, who boasted better facilities, leagues and experience.
“The reason we lost is because we played against stronger opponents. We played Saudi Arabia, who are one of the best teams in Asia. We played Jordan, who recently reached the final of the Asian Cup. Tajikistan, who we played, is a good team and they all made it to the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup,” he said.
“Compared to our guys, those teams are at a different level. They play in good leagues, have better facilities, get better exposure and, of course, they are more experienced,” he added.
Despite these challenges, Ramos is optimistic about the future of Pakistani football and believes that with time and regular competition, players will develop a better mentality and improve their skills.
“The players need time to develop a better mentality. Pakistan has good players who want to play and love to play. But we need our players to compete and play regularly,” he said.
“I believe the footballers are there, we just need to find them and have them perform. If we can choose the best players in the country from a range of options, our level will improve. This is only natural,” he added.
Ramos said he is enthusiastic about the ongoing transformation of Pakistan football and is delighted to be part of this journey alongside coach Stephen Constantine.
He envisions big strides and aims to bring greater prominence to Pakistan football in the coming years.
“We have a lot to do and we want to transform Pakistan football into something bigger. Change is happening but it will take time and I am happy to be a part of it alongside Stephen Constantine,” he concluded.
