India, Sept. 15 -- In the surreal silence of Hisor Central Stadium - except for the tie against Tajikistan, India's matches felt like closed-door affairs - Khalid Jamil's instructions boomed and bounced off the rafters. "Hold, hold", "no foul, no foul", "second ball, second ball", "up, up", you could hear India's men football team head coach and see him live every moment of the CAFA Nations Cup matches on the touchlines.

Usually in black, his beard scruffy and hair tousled, Jamil was a prominent physical and aural presence in the technical area. Off the field, Jamil, 48, speaks softly, is unfailingly polite and self-effacing to a fault.

"Everyone was under pressure and wanted results for a long time. The important thing is India won (a ...