Football Coach

Born: 5 April 1947
Birthplace: Basudevpur in Howrah district, West Bengal

My idea of an ‘incredible India’ is a country free from bureaucratic apathy, dishonesty and, above all, greed, lust, envy and malice towards mankind. We must be prepared to go all the way to protect our motherland, no matter the rigours of the journey.

As a son of the soil, I always wish that the sacred image of the land is not tarnished by murky politics. But as a sportsperson, my dream is much more grounded—I wish for people at the helm of sporting organisations to set up well-equipped nurseries for upcoming talent, provide modern infrastructure and nurture their abilities to the fullest extent. Coaches, especially, should be of high integrity and, above all, prejudice.

I would never have become a footballer if not for Ashoke Nag, a local football coach, who spotted me on a local ground in Howrah, West Bengal. When I was a boy, all I wanted to be was an athlete—a short distance runner—and I trained regularly at the ground. Nag honed my talent on the football ground; with the passage of time, I donned the different colours of clubs in and out of West Bengal.

The All India Football Federation has contributed to my success by giving me the opportunity to play for the nation, even up to the pre-Olympics level. Under its aegis, I was selected to coach junior teams such as the U-16, U-17 and U-21. However, I was shocked when the Federation decided to withdraw my coaching position after qualifying for the U-17 World Cup in 2004 from the southeast zone. It was a move I did not anticipate. Perhaps they didn’t like my suggestion to escalate my daily allowance of ₹ per day by ₹. I was disappointed when the responsibility was then given to an inexperienced and technically less-qualified person.

I remember a radio interview in Germany in 1985 when I was taking an international coaching course. They asked me whether my country would benefit from such a course or if it would be a waste of money by the German government who was sponsoring the course under its cultural exchange programme. My answer: “We believe that the ultimate truth for coming to earth is to cleanse the inner self, not by projecting ourselves as the victor in a competition, but by gathering knowledge from wherever possible. We believe in developing strength. Swami Vivekananda once said, ‘You will be nearer to heaven through football than through the study of the Gita.’” It is the principal by which I live.

As a professional footballer and coach, I think India has the talent. We need not import players and coaches from other countries; that is, if we place more value on standards and not the razzmatazz of football. I believe in corporate sponsorship but not to retain the service of foreign players. In the past 15 years, so many foreign-bred footballers have played in different clubs in the country. They are undoubtedly talented, skilled and dedicated to the game, but has this process of foreign recruitment helped Indian football in any way, except maybe creating momentary euphoria in domestic football?

Sometimes I stop to wonder, whatever happened to Indian hockey? Once the country to beat in events like the Olympics and Asian Games, the Indian field hockey team now struggles in international arenas. Sixty-nine years have passed since the British handed over the baton to us and we seem to be basking in the glory of yesteryears without chasing our dreams.

Being born the same year when India was set free from British reign is a rare fortune that I possess. In a country where hundreds of crores of people live, the development of football and the attitude of those in charge are yet to come of age. I think government bodies in charge of sports should open up new horizons for football in the country to attract talented and knowledgeable people to join the fray without fear of being abandoned. We now pass the ball on to the next generation of Indians, in the hope that they will score the winning goal.

—As told to Partha Mukherjee

Milestones

1971: Signed to Port Commissioner Club

1972: Signed to Tata Sports Club

1972: Member of team India at the pre-Olympics

1975: Signed to Mohun Bagan as a striker, with a career record of 24 goals

1977: Signed to East Bengal

1985: Selected for a coaching training programme in Bonn, Germany, sponsored by the Government of West Germany

1999: Qualified as India’s first A-licence coach

2015: Appointed manager of I-League Team Aizawl FC

Current occupation: Head coach at Aizawl FC and Chief of Youth Development

Illustration by Sanjhi Shah
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
August 2016

FLAVIA AGNES

AMAL ALLANA

DR PREM SHANKAR GOEL

V K B NAIR

DR S Y QURAISHI

DR HIMANSHI SHELAT

DR LALJI SINGH

SHUVAPRASANNA

DR L SUBRAMANIAM