Suman Chakravorty: Right now the Indian football is in a spot of bother as the road map of Indian football hasn’t been fixed. On the other hand the duel is continuing between I-League and Indian Super League. www.xtratime.in had an exclusive interaction with five-time I-League winning coach Armando Colaco on what would be the future roadmap of Indian Football, I-League vs ISL and other things. Here goes the full interview:
XT: Which side you are taking in the tussle of I-League & ISL?
Armando: I have come from the I-League so you know I will back only that league. You can’t forget these clubs contribution in Indian football. You should take these clubs as well in the top division and try to promote a team. The only solution is reform; you just can’t grow by just playing the best players in the ISL. But what about the other teams? It is a platform for them. They should try to find a way where everyone should coexist. I am not against ISL but I also want I-League to go ahead. You should give promotion and give demotion that’s it.
XT: If the ISL becomes the tier 1 league, there won’t be any promotion and relegation as you know. And for those who want to play there, must pay Rs 15 cr as appearance fee. What’s your take on that?
Armando: It’s nothing but a crap. The franchises can do that as they are doing it for publicity. It’s a business for them. But in I-League clubs they are working in grass-root levels and so many other things so where would they get that kind of money? I have listened that the AIFF have done the contract much earlier with FSDL. Why they didn’t contact the club to say that we are signing this contract. You can’t just throw the I-League clubs who have done so much for Indian football. There is no proper road map by AIFF for the development of Indian football. Praful Patel just talked to the I-League clubs a few days back and suddenly the Executive Committee takes a decision that ISL will be the number 1 league. How can that happen?
XT: When you were with Dempo there were four or five clubs from Goa who took part in I-League. And now there is only Churchill Brothers who is there in I-League from Goa. What’s the reason behind this demotion of Goan football?
Armando: It’s not demotion. They just removed the teams as there is no road map in Indian football. Why they would spend so much money when there is no road map. For so many years the AIFF is talking about this roadmap but still now they are saying the same thing. I am not against ISL, the best players will play there but what about the other players? Is the AIFF only thinking about the ISL? There were no proper roadmap and that’s why Dempo, Salgaocar & other removed their team’s from the I-League.
XT: How do you rate the selection procedure of the Indian national team?
Armando: They only pick players who are playing in the ISL. Why is this happening? You should see the other players as well from the I-League. And about Indian national team it’s good that the new coach is trying all the players to find out the best position. They may lose in the beginning but I can assure you that they will get good results in future. He has just come, I think we should give more time to the coach.
XT: How do you rate Sunil Chhetri’s performance?
Armando: In one word ‘incredible’. We all should be proud of him.
XT: Do you think he is the greatest player who dawned the blue jersey?
Armando: There were many great players. But now we are talking about the players of modern generations. What they have done is incredible. He is been scorning in each and every game. He has been the hero. We must appreciate what he has been doing for the nation.
XT: East Bengal will be having its centenary this season. You had been the coach of the club. You had some success. So what’s your message to the club and the millions of East Bengal fans?
Armando: Wow! It’s beautiful. They have been there behind the club for so many years. It’s a marvelous achievement for the club. I wish them all the best and want to see East Bengal doing more wonders in the years to come.