PANAJI: Armando Colaco has steadfastly refused to apply for the national coach's vacancy. But even if he misses the bus yet again -- solely due to his reluctance to apply rather than be invited -- he could still be the man the new coach would have to take some lessons from.
Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia poses along with teammates during the launch of the new national team kit in New Delhi.
The All India Football Federation has started its hunt to search for Bob Houghton's replacement, and the first criteria that the new man will have to follow is to stay true to possession football, just like Dempo Sports Club have done for almost a decade with astounding success.
"The style of football that was being played during Houghton's era was flawed. The long ball game is absolutely unsuitable. The new coach should be able to bring with him possession football, the kind of passing game that is pleasing," AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told TOI on Monday.
The AIFF has already started receiving interest from at least a dozen coaches -- former Ghana national coach, Mariano Barreto, currently training Bahrain side Al Ahli is one of them -- and the federation is likely to sift through the CVs early next week.
"We are open to all coaches, both foreign, Indian and even those who are currently working with clubs here. If the coach can fulfill the criteria that we have drawn up, we should not have a problem handing over the responsibility to one of our own," said Das.
