KOLKATA: With the Bob Houghton era in Indian football coming to an end on Saturday, the question doing the rounds is who will take over the reins of the senior team. AIFF general secretary Kushal Dassaid that the process of choosing the next coach will begin now.
Though there was no official confirmation from the AIFF, but it has been learnt from reliable sources that Salgaocar SC coach Karim Bencherifa could be in line to take over from Houghton. Two factors are in Karim's favour.
First, he has enjoyed considerable success with three Indian clubs - Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan and now Salgaocar - in Goa and Kolkata. And, then, everybody is impressed with the way the Moroccan has transformed a struggling Salgaocar side into leading contenders for the I-League title this season.
Moreover, having worked five seasons in Kolkata and Goa means that he knows most of the Indian players very closely which is a huge advantage rather than someone who will have to begin from a scratch. He is also well aware of the facilities and infrastructure in the country and can chalk out his plans accordingly.
Secondly, during his stint in the country, Bencherifa has unearthed new talents like R Vashum, Robert Lalthalma and Manish Mathani, which will surely help the next coach to rebuild the national team.
Bencherifa, however, refused to make any comment when asked over the matter, saying he had not been approached by anyone in the AIFF. For the record, Bencherifa's contract with Salgaocar runs out in May.
Though there was no official confirmation from the AIFF, but it has been learnt from reliable sources that Salgaocar SC coach Karim Bencherifa could be in line to take over from Houghton. Two factors are in Karim's favour.
First, he has enjoyed considerable success with three Indian clubs - Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan and now Salgaocar - in Goa and Kolkata. And, then, everybody is impressed with the way the Moroccan has transformed a struggling Salgaocar side into leading contenders for the I-League title this season.
Moreover, having worked five seasons in Kolkata and Goa means that he knows most of the Indian players very closely which is a huge advantage rather than someone who will have to begin from a scratch. He is also well aware of the facilities and infrastructure in the country and can chalk out his plans accordingly.
Secondly, during his stint in the country, Bencherifa has unearthed new talents like R Vashum, Robert Lalthalma and Manish Mathani, which will surely help the next coach to rebuild the national team.
Bencherifa, however, refused to make any comment when asked over the matter, saying he had not been approached by anyone in the AIFF. For the record, Bencherifa's contract with Salgaocar runs out in May.
