Final whistle for Mahindra United

With less than seven minutes left in regulation time,the usually grouchy David Booth,on his last day as Mahindra United coach....

With less than seven minutes left in regulation time,the usually grouchy David Booth,on his last day as Mahindra United coach,did something that he never seemed capable of,during his decade-long stint in the country. He shared a hearty joke with the fourth referee,a breed often scorned upon and detested by most foreign coaches.

As the clock started ticking down on Mahindra Uniteds 43-year-long legacy on Thursday,the entire dug-out,especially the coaching staff,seemed eager to get done with the contest,constantly peering into their watches.

When the final whistle was blown Booth & Co did look pleased that Mahindra had clung onto the 2-1 lead against JCT in their final outing. A sense of relief that their agonising period post the announcement of the club disbanding had come to an end,seemed more overwhelming.

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Rarely has a football match in Mumbai received as widely publicised a build-up as the citys penultimate I-league contest of the season. But while the football fanatics in the city failed to fill up the archaic wooden stands at Cooperage as expected,the rickety press-box for once was filled to the brim.

But though the Jeepmen did receive a standing ovation as they waved to their home crowd one final time after finishing off on a winning note,Steven Dias,who has been with the club since 2003 and was the longest-serving member on the field,revealed that the mood in the camp was rather a sombre one.

None of us were in any mood to celebrate. There are still a number of players in the team with uncertain futures without a contract and what has transpired over the last few weeks has left all of us very sad, said the winger,who will be turning up for Churchill Brothers next season.

The coach too had signed off by insisting that todays game wasnt about playing for Mahindra but rather about playing for our teammates who have been affected the most by the club shutting down, explained Dias.

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Star striker Mohammad Rafi meanwhile revealed that the Mahindra management hadnt arranged for a send-off party and that the outstation players,who have been staying in the clubs housing quarters in Kandivali,would be getting together for an emotional send-off later in the evening.

It is depressing to leave Mumbai. I will miss everything about the city,including our shopping escapades in Malad. Walking onto the training ground yesterday for our final practice session was a very emotional experience, said Rafi.

Little drama

The match itself contained little drama with Mahindra running off into an early two-goal advantage with goals from Sukhwinder Singh and Paresh Shivalkar. JCT too didnt seem too keen on spoiling Mahindras farewell party,missing a number of scoring opportunities. Even the consolidatory goal that was scored didnt induce much enthusiasm in their camp.

Veteran manager Henry Menezes,who delivered the final speech to his wards on the previous day was pragmatic. Tomorrow will be the first time in over 20 years that I will wake up without having to worry about a football club, he said.

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While one of the few glory chapters in Indian football might have come to a premature end at Cooperage on Thursday,Booth signed off on a ominous note insisting that the sport had seen no improvement during his decade-long vigil in

the country.

The club suddenly made the announcement when we were on top,and I have struggled to keep the players motivated ever since, coach Booth revealed.