Tigers back in the hunt

Though there wasn’t much to choose between the two teams once the first whistle of the battle was blown on the field,there was definitely a visible contrast to the look of the two dug-outs as the action intensified. While the sizable entourage near the Tigers’ area included a battery of high-pitched coaches in addition to a couple of anxious parents; all that the lone Ashoka SC player,who sat with a bored expression on his face in his team’s dug-out,had to say was,“We just practice amongst ourselves in Naigaon. There is no coach and all.”

After an evenly contested affair,it was the Tigers Academy boys who won 2-1. And while they had a selection of chips and soft-drinks waiting for them in their ‘tent’,which is erected on one corner of the ground each time the team plays; the vanquished lot simply slipped out of the venue without much fanfare.

But despite all the apparent aces up their sleeves,it wasn’t with a bang that the ITFA started off their debut campaign in the MDFA league—much to the disappointment of their head coach Marshall John.

“You cannot just blame the boys for their poor start and it wasn’t that they weren’t putting in 100 per cent each time. It simply had to do with their failure to finish off the numerous opportunities that they created,” bemoans the Vikhroli-based coach. Fellow coach Dilip Patankar believes that his wards,who are used to greener pastures (literally) and better conditions during practice,did find the going a touch difficult on the dusty and uneven surface at the St Xavier’s ground.

After three straight losses at the top,ITFA seemed to have almost missed the boat as far as qualifying for the play-offs was concerned on Friday evening,as they conceded an early goal to Zealous FC. “It was in the second-half of that game that the turnaround actually happened. We told them that one goal could completely change the complexion of the game and it did,” says a delighted Patankar (ITFA eventually won 3-1).

With two wins on the trot now,John believes,his team’s season is back on track for now and crucially so. “The ITFA is a grand initiative and it is essential that our boys do well here as this is their first real exposure to serious football,” he says. The pony-tailed coach,who also has a team in the MDFA Women’s League this season,though insists that it is in the success of individual players rather than the team’s overall performance that the ITFA’s goal will be achieved.

“It will take at least another four to five years for us to really be in contention for the Super and Senior Divisions. And I really hope that by then we have a few boys from the ITFA getting picked up for the state team and playing at the national level. That will really put the ITFA on the map,” says John.

Though the ITFA has spread its wings within the city ever since its inception a few years ago,it was their venture with English Premier League side Chelsea that really brought them to the forefront. And John insists that there were a number of positives that came out of the 10-day session that the ITFA boys had with Chelsea coaches Gareth Hall,David Lee and Clive Walker.

“Though 10 days isn’t a long enough time,there were a number of little yet important tips that the boys picked up. There were some kids who actually learnt to kick with the right technique after the session. They made my job much easier,” says John with a wink. He adds that though being part of the ITFA may not be a feasible option for every young football enthusiast,there were five Colaba-based boys from lesser-privileged backgrounds who were practicing with the team presently.

“I brought in a few players from the Magic Bus initiative when the Chelsea coaches were in town and they were really impressed with their skills,” reveals John.

The young Indian Tigers may have started off their MDFA campaign with a faint whimper but if their present form continues,coach John is confident that they will certainly finish with a big roar.