Panaji: Bibiano Fernandes had a good look at what was being said about him on social media, but instead of getting bogged down, the India U-15 coach took everything in his stride.For almost a fortnight, social media was abuzz with Bibiano vs Ranjit Bajaj, the Minerva Academy owner who had staked claim to take charge of the U-15 team and made a detailed presentation before the technical committee. His teams have won plenty of trophies, and it surprised nobody that his supporters questioned Bibiano’s credentials, playing style and achievements. Some posts were nasty, others disrespectful.“The noise on social media did not affect me at all,” Bibiano told TOI after his appointment as India U-15 coach was confirmed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday. “Sometimes what I saw (online) made me laugh. I take criticism in my stride, it’s part of the job. In fact, criticism drives me to achieve greater heights.”At the youth level, no coach has achieved as much as Bibiano with the national team. During his tenure across age groups, India have qualified for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup on four occasions, won five SAFF age-group titles and recorded a win against mighty Iran at home. In 2018, India were close to upstaging South Korea for a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.Now, he’s stepping into uncharted territory: the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.“The U-15 World Cup is an 8-a-side format, but the fundamentals (of coaching) remain the same. Nothing changes. For every coaching licence, you have to go through all formats, so coaches learn to handle everything,” said Bibiano.The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival is scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan from Oct 22 to 31. It’s less of a tournament and more of an exhibition, with every FIFA member getting an invite. Matches are played 8 versus 8, with halves of 20 minutes each, rolling substitutions, and teams guaranteed a minimum of five matches in the initial qualification round, where 32 groups of 6-7 teams are expected to be drawn.In essence, this is a festival, but for Bibiano, it’s much more.“Our efforts have all been directed towards scouting the best boys, who have the potential to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. This will be good exposure for the team since we will play diverse opponents from across the world. We will know where we stand at the end of the tournament,” said Bibiano.The Goan coach is aware that besides the boys he chooses, his own performance will be under heavy scrutiny. Should he stumble, social media will be unforgiving.“The pressure is unavoidable, but it can be a huge motivation,” said Bibiano. “Pressure does not affect me. I know that I have the full backing of the federation. Whatever the outcome in Azerbaijan, I can promise that I will give my best and the boys will perform to the best of their abilities.”
