Local knowledge makes Indian coaches key
NEW DELHI: Following the departure of Albert Roca as head coach at the end of last season, two-time I-League champions Bengaluru FC appointed Carles Cuadrat in the role ahead of their second campaign in the Indian Super League (ISL). Making the appointment would have been a tricky affair in past seasons as the league rules required a coach to have a pro licence or be a highprofile name in the game.
However, a relaxation in the said rules ahead of this season meant that Cuadrat’s appointment went through without a hiccup. The new rules allow assistants to be promoted to the head coach’s role, while pro licence is not a necessity either as long as the coach is ‘in the process of acquiring’ it. The league also allows marquee names in the sport, à la Roberto Carlos, Marco Materazzi, Nicolas Anelka, David James, etc., to coach teams in it without the requisite licence.
On the other hand, Indian coaches with pro licences, or those in the process of acquiring it, aren’t yet eligible to hold the head coach’s role at an ISL club.
Kerala Blasters assistant coach Thangboi Singto FC Goa Technical Director Derrick Pereira are pro licence holders part of the technical staff at ISL clubs this season. Another one, Hilal Parray, is the coach of the Jamshedpur FC reserve team, which plays in the 2nd Division.
With the primary coaching position unavailable to them, Indian coaches have had to settle for roles as assistants.
Nonetheless, given the experience of some of the Indian coaches working in ISL, their knowledge of the domestic game will be crucial to their clubs.
Derrick Pereira, one of the most prominent coaches in India over the last decade-and-a-half, has taken over as FC Goa’s technical director this term, having worked as assistant to head coach Sergio Lobera last season.
Former Mohun Bagan head coach Sanjoy Sen, like Singto, is one of the two assistant coaches at ATK, while Delhi Dynamos have appointed former West Bengal head coach Mridul Banerjee as their assistant coach. Indo-Scotsman Pradyum Reddy, a crucial cog in Bengaluru FC’s initial years as assistant coach, will be assisting FC Pune City head coach Miguel Angel Portugal with another assistant coach.
Naushad Moosa (Bengaluru FC), Syed Sabir Pasha (Chennaiyin FC), Ishfaq Ahmed (Jamshedpur FC), Alex Ambrose (Mumbai City) and Joseph Sidy (NorthEast United) are among the other Indians part of the coaching staff in ISL clubs this season.