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[caption id="attachment_42252" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Jahar Das, the youth development head of Aizawl FC. Image Source: arunfoot.com[/caption] Internet Desk: Jahar Das, the man behind the incredible success of Aizawl FC has always kept himself behind the curtains. All the Mizo players who have been trying exceedingly hard to script their names in the folktales of Indian football to win their maiden I-League title, are being developed and nourished by none other than the former Mohun Bagan coach, who is still busy in producing quality talents for the future. In an interaction with www.xtratime.in , Jahar told about the journey which is now the biggest talking point in Indian club football right now. Here goes the conversation: XT: Aizawl FC is now in front of that milestone which could permanently frame their names in the folklore of Indian football. The credit should go to you to a large extent for that. How has been the journey? Jahar: Well, it was never easy. Aizawl is such a place where the 99.5% people of the total population are Christians. Their religious belief is exposed in their lifestyle as well. They are so united that they don't allow any other person to work over there. Such has been their unity, that they will back their people even if someone commit a crime. In such situations, I had to adjust a lot over here. The felt my importance much later. They are naturally so stubborn that you cannot change their style, basics and the other important things in the initial stage. I started to get involved very slowly. Then they too started to accept me. They started to believe that I can help them. But it was tough. XT: Right now Indian football is dominated by the players from the NorthEast and among them the majority are your students. As a coach, how pleasing is this? Jahar: Starting from Robert, Mama, all are my students. They went with me to play the Singapore Lions Cup in 1999. Rahim Nabi too was a part of that team. Later on many coaches came to train them. They all can claim the success. But for me all theses moments bring the mental satisfaction. I openly tell the young boys that we cannot develop you to be a great player. If that was the case, I would have wanted all my boys to reach that level. As a player, it depends entirely on that individual on how big a player he wants to be. As a coach, our role is to show the right track. XT: You have worked with the young talents in Kolkata, you have worked in Aizawl as well. What has been the difference? Jahar: Psychology does make a difference. Another reason is that they are often get misguided. They have many Godfathers. They don't know whom to listen. The young kids in Bengal are thus unfortunate. Kids here in Aizawl are fortunate that they are listening to a single person. So. I'm the only godfather to them. On the flip side, due to too many godfathers, the kids get confused in Bengal. XT: From getting relegated in the previous season's I-League to compete for the title this season, don't you think it's a rise like a Phoenix? Jahar: Actually, we didn't finish last to get relegated last season. We finished at 8th among the 9 teams. Manuel Retamero failed with the team because he wanted to bring the Spanish flavour in Aizawl FC. But as I said before, they love to stay within themselves and a bit conservative about their football style. Manuel couldn't understand this psychology. The thing which helped me to understand the pulse was the experience to work with them in the previous six months. So the only thing I told them, was 'play your natural game.' They first got a bit perplexed to hear that but later they started to be in their own. You might call it a cultural change. I brought a cultural change in Aizawl football. But one thing I still say, Manuel deserves a lot of credit for the transformation of Aizawl football. XT: What do you want to say about the era of Khalid Jamil? Jahar: The advantage Khalid Jamil had was the experience of working with an I-League team right from the start. He worked with Mumbai FC and he knew all the players. The deficiency we had was in the goalkeeping, defence and a midfield departments, was properly fixed by Khalid with some good recruits. The four foreigners who are playing, except the forward Kamo, all are quality foreigners, especially Amna. The little loopholes which were there, were properly solved and there lies the reason behind the success. XT: Do you have any repentance that West Bengal hasn't used your football knowledge properly? Jahar: Well, this has been the trend in Bengal. Those who couldn't respect Amal Dutta properly, will hardly pay any heed to me. We have the deserving respect to Amal Dutta much later. We live in a state where even Swami Vivekananda didn't get the proper respect after he returned from Chicago. When I know the past tradition from the state, I feel no need to repent on this.  Even the Bengal Football Academy formed in Khardah could have been formed in a much better way. But the people who are training the kids, had never worked in youth development. They are working with the big names. But it's not that easy. Sambalpore Football Academy has the best infrastructure in India. But they don't maintain that properly. Coaching plays the most crucial part in youth development. This is what they lack in Bengal. Big clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have no long term plan and no vision. They are least bothered about youth development. But the reason behind the success in Aizawl is the youth development only. XT: What do you want to say about the title deciding game between Mohun Bagan and Aizawl FC? Jahar: It's a win-win situation for me. Whoever wins, I will be delighted. Its like the famous coin used in the Bollywood movie Sholay. Hope the better team will win.