Air-India plan trek to glory despite loss of stars

After the National League, they lost international defender Jeevan Moras and promising Khentang Paite to Mohun Bagan — one of the three big names in Calcutta. Then, PJ Jose added to their woes when he chose to return to Mahindras, his old employees.

A strong believer in refining local talent, coach Bimal Ghosh won the Best Coach Award given by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) after guiding his team to fifthspot at the NFL — one better than at the inaugural league.

For Ghosh, the loss of three players was a time for fresh reckoning, reviewing tactics and a resolve to avoid luring big names into the ranks. The manager-cum-coach went to Bangalore during the Second Division NFL to scout talent.

A famous name by now all over the country, he was strictly followed. Players of Indian Telephone Industries were approached including Mohaamad Najeeb — a promising striker, according to Ghosh. But the very next day, Najeeb was offered double the amount by another scout. "By the end of the League, it were FC Kochin who hired his services at three times our offer," Ghosh revealed.

"In fact, he was thankful, that I fetched him a good deal,"added Ghosh who hails from a sports loving family from Kamptee (Nagpur).

Two other ITI players, namely, Satish Kumar and Keenith Raj also impressed the 38-year-old A-I coach. But FC Kochin, the first professional club of the country won the deal once again.

"Whatever the reason,money or career, players accepted their offer," said the coach who loves to watch English football clubs like Manchester United, Italy’s AC Milan and the Netherlands’ Ajax Amsterdam on television.

"I saw Surjit Tigga at the Guwahati. He is strong in the mid-field and has good control over the game. He also has the attributes of being a star. He agreed to my offer and is expected to join soon after his state transfer," said the post graduate in Sociology when asked why he preferred a handicapped boy in joining them.

"Ratan, Vaz and Sen, the other three Mumbai-based boys are talented. I have always believed strongly in local talent and sometimes big names do more harm than good to a well-knit team," disclosed Ghosh, whose career spanned nine years before a serious knee injury compelled him to retire in 1991.Three years ago, when Paite joined A-I from Rashtriya Chemical Factory (RCF), his raw skills were honed by Ghosh who also primed Moras who eventually donned India colours.

"Basically, a very talentedplayer and hard-working athlete, Moras adopts tactics very well and has the ability to move up. Both rectify their mistakes on the ground itself," added the A-I coach who foresees a good future for both players.

The former Indian Universities player does not place too much importance in the presence of imports in a side. He says: "For the promotion of the game, imports do not bring desired results. I suggest one or two foreigners in a team but certainly not four or five. It is difficult to retain them and develop a cohesive unit."

"There are not many changes in the A-I team ," admits the former Orkay Mills player but he sends out a warning to competitors in the local Super Division which commences on May 15. "Air-India offers permanent jobs to the regular performers," said Ghosh, very much a family man. "Sangeeta, my wife and support, and my darling daughter Sweeta constitute my small world off the football ground," he said.

Ghosh says there will be few more new faces in the side this year once theteam regroups. "I am trying my players out at different positions and I am hopeful something new will emerge," says Ghosh who had a dream unbeaten run lasting 37 matches, eventually ending with defeat in the semi-finals of the DCM tournament in New Delhi.

The strong believer in attacking football had chanced his arm last year with the Dutch total football style but shortage of practice time aborted its development. Ghosh, however, still entertains idea of attempting to deploy the styles and strategies of exemplified by legend Johan Cryuff in the seventies.

The A-I coach was highly impressed by Herbert Philips, Satish Minz, Sushanta Mazumdar and Andrew Loius. "Although I did not much time to have a look at them. They are very good players and need a little more grooming and self-belief. In fact I was surprised to see them playing so well," added Maharashtra Santosh Trophy coach. All four young Mahindras players were in the Maharashtra squad that lost in the semifinals to Goa by a golden goal in the SantoshTrophy in Guwahati last week.

The failure to win the coveted trophy does not dampen the enthusiasm of the highly motivated and soft spoken coach as he anticipates a strong challenge presented by his wards in the forthcoming season.