India, Sept. 20 -- The dust from the Indian men's football team's CAFA Cup sojourn has settled. This was an eight-team invitational tournament held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, in which India were the second lowest ranked team competing. Yet, they defied the odds and finished third.

This was a commendable result, and perhaps, a timely morale boost for a team that was playing with a new coach at the helm, Khalid Jamil. But as the team sets sights on the upcoming trip to Singapore for an AFC Asian Cup qualification match, the pressure is back on.

Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia said he is optimistic. "For Khalid, (CAFA Cup) being his first tournament, he's done pretty well," Bhutia said about his former teammate, who became the fir...