Kolkata: Former East Bengal stalwarts today
disapproved of the frequent change of coach and said it was no
solution to the dipping fortunes of the club.
Belgian Philippe de Ridder, who replaced Subhas Bhowmick
as East Bengal coach after a disastrous start to the season,
will be the fifth person at helm of affairs in a short time.
Olympian P K Banerjee, who has coached East Bengal after
retirement, feels the problem lies with the attitude of the
players and officials.
"Changing the coach is not the solution. There has been a
shift in the attitude of footballers after they became
professionals. As an amateur, a player used to play with
strong emotion," he said.
"Now players don't show emotion. One must feel the pain
of losing to get back into track. (Argentina coach) Diego
Maradona was hurt after the team's debacle in the World Cup
qualifiers and they eventually returned to winning ways," the
iconic Indian footballer said.
Remembering his days as the coach of East Bengal,
Banerjee said, "We beat Mohun Bagan 4-1 in a Kolkata League
match with Bhaichung Bhutia scoring a hat-trick. Those days
are gone and we must change the attitude."
"Indian football was also not benefiting from foreign
recruits who belong to third category. The best lot of African
or Brazilian players go to England. We must develop our
footballers," said the septuagenarian.
Echoing Banerjee's views, former East Bengal coach
Manoranjan Bhattacharya said the side did not get the right
team this time and the coach was being targeted.
"A coach cannot give immediate result. There are ups and
downs, but the officials want instant result. There is no
balance in the side and the players were not properly
selected," he said.
"I don't think a coach should be entirely blamed for the
team's debacle. It's the players who play and coach has 15-20
per cent role," said Bhattacharya who had replaced Subrata
Bhattacharya after the team was languishing at ninth spot in
the last I-League.
Recalling East Bengal's 3-5 loss to Mohun Bagan, the
former India defender said, "Both the teams played badly but
it was Mohun Bagan who were better organised in the second
half. It was a sad day for all former East Bengal players."
Former Mohun Bagan player Subrata Bhattacharya who later
coached East Bengal blamed the club officials for the debacle.
"Mohun Bagan and East Bengal officials are interfering
too much in team's affairs. The officials want to establish
themselves using the club's name," Bhattacharya said.
"Blaming coach is easy. They must look for development of
players," said Bhattacharya, who is now the coach of Chirag
United SC.
The three times National Football League (now I-League)
champions, East Bengal cut a sorry figure this season after
making an early exit from the season opener IFA Shield, which
they had won 27 times.
The team failed in the league stage in the next
tournament, Durand Cup, where they have a record of 16 titles.
Bhowmick was spared the axe but the inevitable came after
their side's humiliating 3-5 loss to Mohun Bagan as the
veteran East Bengal coach put in his papers after incurring
the wrath of supporters.
East Bengal had four coaches last season. Aloke
Mukherjee, who guided the team in AFC Cup, was replaced by
Manoranjan Bhattacharya who made way for Stanley Rozario after
a disastrous third-place finish by the side in IFA Premier
Division League. Rozario was followed by Bhowmick.
Bureau Report