Meet the woman behind Churchill’s success

“A lot of people have asked me about dealing with the men’s team but I have had no problems. All the players are very comfortable with my presence in the dressing room and treat me as a professional. As students of physiotherapy we have to handle any sport but my association with football has been so strong that I don’t think I will be able to look after any other sportsmen,” Miranda says,speaking to Sportline. “After working for a couple of years I have realised the need to understand the game you are dealing with. An injury in cricket will be different from that of football and areas of the body susceptible to injuries vary from sport to sport. I can’t switch now because I understand the technicalities of football better than any other game,” she adds.

This journey in sports medicine had her shifting bases continuously from Mysore to Goa to Mumbai but Irani’s piece of advice has been a constant. Right from being an intern at the Nanavati in Mumbai,Irani’s influence has been huge.

Miranda gives an example of how handy that piece of advice still is. “Odafa,being our main player,needs special care. A few days ago he had some toe problem which I assessed as some gout problem that arises due to accumulation of uric acid. But I wasn’t sure and called for Ali Irani’s advice. He insisted it wasn’t gout and just a sprain. I followed his suggestions and the uneasiness disappeared within days,” the 23-year-old says.

Miranda,however,has signed just a year’s contract with the Goan club. “I don’t know whether I will still be with the team after a year. I have to complete my Masters degeree to be eligible for working outside India and study orthopaedics . That’s a different dream but I will stick to football,” she says.