FREE-KICK P. K. Banerjeer

Now that the AIFF has decided to replace Syed Nayeemuddin with a foreigner, I am keeping fingers crossed. In fact, you can say I am praying hard and hoping that the AIFF gets someone of stature and proven pedigree, rather than a foreigner just for the heck of it.

Even at the peril of sounding familiar, I would like to reiterate that I’m not a big supporter of the foreign coach theory. It can still work at the club level where there are three-four foreign players in every side, but to expect a man to fly in from abroad and work wonders with our national team is too far-fetched an idea.

But since my thoughts aren’t going to influence the decision-makers, they should at least address some important issues before taking the plunge. Firstly, whoever they bring in to coach the national team will need an Indian assistant to (a) help him understand this vast country and its players coming from varied socio-cultural background and (b) help overcome the language barrier by conveying his ideas and instructions to the players.

All credit to Biswajit for recreating a healthy, conducive atmosphere

More importantly, the AIFF has to provide better infrastructure and facilities if it expects the foreign coach to give shape to his dreams. Right now, there is no proper planning, not even for the next five-year period. Policies are still being worked out on a trial-and-error basis. Even after having decided to spot and nurture talent in the under-12, under-15, under-17 and under-19 age-groups, precious little has been done to translate theory into action.

Last but not the least, any foreign coach of some stature will have to be given complete power and freedom. He won’t tolerate any kind of interference. To give an example, the Japanese federation wanted to field the under-23 national team in the Asian Cup qualifier against India in Yokohama last month, but Zico would have nothing of it, his argument being that he wouldn’t like to experiment in a competitive match months before the World Cup. By putting his foot down, Zico made it abundantly clear that as far as the national team was concerned, he was the boss, not federation officials.

Has the AIFF given a serious thought to all this? I’m not too sure.

The federation has happily announced that 30 foreign coaches have applied for the India job, including Michel Hidalgo. Anyone with basic football knowledge won’t dare question Hidalgo’s credentials. Age is not on his side, as he’s well into his 70s, but he should still be able to bring in some fresh ideas. The question to ask is, can the AIFF afford him?

Even if he hasn’t coached any famous side of late, someone of Hidalgo’s reputation is almost certainly going to cost a bomb. Why Hidalgo, even the former national coaches of Ireland or Romania will be quite expensive. As far as my knowledge goes, the AIFF doesn’t have the funds to pay such high salaries. That is precisely why I fear that we will end up appointing a third-grade foreign coach. And I’m convinced that we don’t need another Constantine.

Spending precious dollars on someone like Constantine will be a waste. We have quite a few young desi coaches who can do a better job for a lesser salary.

Talking of Indian coaches, I have to give it to Biswajit Bhattacharya the way he has transformed an ailing Mohun Bagan to a winning unit. For a team which managed five draws and two losses in its first seven outings in the National League, winning the next three games in a row was a wonderful achievement. All credit to Biswajit for getting the players together and recreating a healthy, conducive atmosphere which must have been missing.

Biswajit adopted a simple style and let the footballers play in a carefree fashion. As a result, everyone in the Mohun Bagan ranks are flowing freely now, like birds let loose from their cage.

Mehrajuddin Wadao is the fixed man at the heart of the defence, the others are all running and passing constantly. The shortest route to the goal is being taken and, consequently, many openings are being created.

Biswajit had a good footballing brain in his playing days. I used him in the midfield, as a striker. It’s good to see him using his intelligence while he is coaching as well. I was particularly happy to see him putting the players in the forefront and not taking any credit for the amazing resurgence.

Of course, it won’t be a bed of roses all the way. The test for him and the players will be when the team concedes a goal first in away matches against teams like Mahindra, Sporting Clube de Goa and Dempo.