Coaching amid friendly fire

Zeliangrong FC made their debut in competitive football at the RN Tamchon Memorial Trophy here this year and, on Tuesday, reached the last four beating Athletics in Action AIA 4-3 on penalties at the Ambedkar Stadium.

Athletics in Action8217;s coach Rangam Pamei lost to a team made up of his own students

Zeliangrong FC made their debut in competitive football at the RN Tamchon Memorial Trophy here this year and, on Tuesday, reached the last four beating Athletics in Action AIA 4-3 on penalties at the Ambedkar Stadium. But beyond the turf, the match took 8216;friendly rivalry8217; to a new meaning.

And AIA coach Rangam Pamei 8212; who also doubles up as their playmaker 8212; was not upset at losing out. Not surprising, since the opposition was also made up of his own students, players who, till last year, had been his team mates. 8220;More than half of their players are my students. In fact, all of them played for AIA last year in this tournament. This year they decided to play under the banner of a students8217; union, with my permission. Obed Kamei, Akhon Mei and Adam Gangmei still come to my institution for practice,8221; Pamei said after the match.

Pamei, a former Hansraj College skipper 1997-98 and Goans Club player 1995-98, instead said that having a 8216;breakaway8217; group was actually a blessing in disguise, since it gave 8220;other students an opportunity to play in this tournament. And as first-timers, I think, we have done a remarkable job,8221; he added.

True, given that they had managed to hold their own against an opposition that had as many as six professionals 8212; DJ Kabui City Football Club, G Kamei Garhwal Heroes, Obed Kamei Shimla Youngs and Jacky City Football Club. And the fact that the 33-year old Pamei, despite his age, was on field for the entire duration, keeping a check on the substitutions.

8220;Taking the field with your students is fun. Of course, I don8217;t keep running like them. But while going for every move they the players follow my instructions. For example I may not be involved in the attacking line, but I keep directing them on the passes,8221; he said.

With a stake in both teams that took to the field on Tuesday, and having proved that there is no dearth of talent in either team, the midfielder-cum-coach wants recognition for his club Athletes in Action. 8220;We need to get recognised by the state body. We approached them earlier, but they said there are already too many clubs playing under various categories of the DSA Delhi Soccer Association League and we have to wait,8221; he said.

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NK Bhatia, secretary of the DSA, admitted that there was a long waiting list for approval. 8220;There are already so many teams waiting. Not all of them have proper papers or experience fitting our requirements. There are many fake clubs who apply just for the sake of getting recognised. We will conduct some sessions for all such clubs in the coming weeks after modifying a few criteria for recognition,8221; says Bhatia.