Indian football legends have hailed India's AFC Cup win, saying coach Bob Houghton should continue for another three years.

Former captain Chuni Goswami said by winning the AFC Challenge Cup the Indian team had shown that they can recapture the country's past glory in international stage.

"Indian team is on an upswing. They played football reminiscent of what India used to play two decades ago. From (Sunil) Chhetri to Gouramangi ... Everybody played well," said the Olympian who also led India to 1962 Asian Games gold.

Former India star IM Vijayan termed the final against Tajikistan as one of the best matches in a long time and said the country has arrived at Asian top level.

"I have not seen India beating a strong team by that margin in any final. It seemed the players have shed the fear factor of playing in big tournaments. Full credit to the players and the coach," he told PTI from Thrissur.

The 39-year-old former India striker felt Houghton should be kept at the helm of affairs at least till 2011 so that he can plan out for Asian Cup.

"We are going to play the likes of South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia. So, we need preparations. Houghton is doing a great job now and he should be given another term or extend his current contract till 2011," he said.

1984 Asian Cup team member Biswajit Bhattacharya gave full credit to Houghton for the impressive performance of his charges in their 4-1 thrashing of Tajikistan last night.

"By scoring three goals in first 25 minutes, Indians showed the domination. They charmed everybody. Full credit to coach Bob Houghton," he said.

Biswajit, however, felt that Yugoslavian coach Ciric Milovan, who was at the helm of affairs in 1984, sowed the seeds of India's football revival. "The seed was planted by Milovan who had proposed the introduction of national league to AIFF president Dasmunshi. He started the revolution after taking over the Indian team following 1982 Asian Games till mid-1985," he said.

Another 1984 Asian Cup team member Subrata Bhattacharya felt that coach Houghton and football establishment should continue the current group of players for some time together to get even better results.

"Indian football has finally come of age by qualifying for the Asian Cup after 1984. Houghton and the players have done a great job; India have found their combination right... this batch of footballers should stay in the team for at least two years. Now they should continue on the same momentum." 1970 Asian Games bronze medallist Mohammed Habib felt the AFC Challenge Cup victory should give the Indian team and the football establishment the belief that the country can rise again at the highest level in Asia like in the 1950s and 60s.

"It was a top class performance (against Tajikistan), congratulations to the coach and players. After 24 years we are playing in Asia's highest level," he said from Hyderabad.

Habib, who was coach of national team for a brief period in 1991, also felt that Houghton has started giving results and he should be given another term at the helm of affairs.

"I had always said that Houghton was a good coach and given some time he would give results. Now that the results have started coming in Houghton should be given another tenure (after June 2009)," said Habib who was in the panel that selected the Englishman in 2006 as India coach after Syed Nayeemuddin was shown the door.