KARACHI, Dec 8: Refusing to accept Baichung Bhutia and Zesh Rehman’s star appeal at SAFF championship, India soccer coach Syed Nayeemuddin on Thursday said it would be star performance and not star attraction that would count.

“It will be star performance not star attraction that counts. There will be no Bhutia or Rehman but the teams will have to deliver if they want to win,” Nayeemudin told Dawn.

The Indian coach, who took over charge last month, said although Bhutia had been in top physical shape now after recovering from knee injury, he would not be the star at the eight-nation contest.

Instead, the coach from Hyderabad, said he would be looking for brilliant team effort and not exploits only from Bhutia who has played professional leagues abroad and represented English club Bury.

“Likewise, I think we don’t see any threat from Pakistan just because they have Rehman in their ranks. We are here to win, win and win. That’s the only thing we have in our mind.”

But Nayeemuddin said Bhutia’s presence in the squad meant more power and bite. “I may not be banking only on Bhutia, but certainly his comeback will make difference.”

It was three-month layoff because of injury that might have made him bit rusty, the coach said and added the striker would take some time before settling down.

“Missing penalty kicks is part of the game. Anybody can miss a penalty like Bhutia missed,” Nayeemuddin said and added lack of cohesion among his players was missing, while vice-captain S. Venka Tesh had been running fever.

The coach, however, refrained from commenting on a possible semifinal clash with archrivals Pakistan, saying “after Nepal we have to play Bhutan and then Bangladesh and then we might play Pakistan in the semis.”

“We are not here to play only against Pakistan but all the teams. We are here to win this tournament. And I think we will lift the title once again,” said the coach who joined Indian ranks after a successful stint with Bangladesh.

Nayeemuddin rated Pakistan as favourites and one of the toughest sides in the event, but vowed that his team would give its best against all the teams including Pakistan.

“We love to play against Pakistan. We are here to play football for the people of Pakistan and I am sure the crowd will be supporting our side too.”

The coach said he could not compare the current squad with the team that played against Pakistan in a series earlier this year.

Interestingly, Indian players are at a distance from media as Nayeemuddin has asked the players to maintain silence. “Media can talk to the officials but not the players,” he said.