He sees positive signs among young players

WHEN HE left India after that disaster in the 1996 Qatar Pre- World cup tournament where the country finished behind even Sri Lanka in the overall points table, it was difficult to imagine that the celebrated Uzbekistan coach Rustom Akramov would ever return. The experience as India's National coach had hurt him more than sullying his credentials. ``I was hurt that the boys refused to play to their potential despite my best efforts to encourage them, teach them'', he said in a far more smoother conversation now than during his first visit to the country when he had struggled to converse in English. His assignment then made him realise not only the vastness of India but the complexities that prevail here.

The football passion moved him just the way songs from Raj Kapoor's films do, but he could not overlook the football inadequacies in the players. Plain speaking created heart burns but what put him on a bad wicket was his adverse comment on I.M. Vijayan, which stirred up a hornet's nest. Before long he realised his faux pas and nothing reflected his changed stance better than when he conceded the star player's worth in the Indian team. But that is a different story.

Four years have rolled by and Akramov is back not with any rancour but richer in experience and with a mission to boot. He has not come to take up an AIFF assignment but to work here at the Indian Federation's request to AFC for his services to strengthen the youth development programmes. While much has been said and written by critics about Akramov's efforts to give a new direction to Indian football, few had pondered on his difficulties and fewer on his background as an expert. A doctorate in football coaching and one who had published books in this field, Akramov's works are acknowledged as text books in Physical Education in some countries, one of which is Algeria, where he has an open invitation from Mr. Rabak Sadan, Technical Director, Football Federation of Algeria to take over the national team as also head the youth development schemes (``I am thinking of moving over in January 2001'', he said).

In fact when he left India in 1997 not only was he mentally drained but as it turned out physically too for he was laid low by a disease that led to skin rashes all over his body. It proved to be a period of rest and introspection. Having come to India as one who heralded Uzbekistan as a football force with its gold medal winning show in the Hiroshima Asian Games in 1994, Akramov wondered where he had gone wrong to have thereafter associated with a country that had given him only fewer moments to rejoice. But he never was without support from the outside world.

Akramov remembers how while at home during that period he had a surprise invitation to luncheon with the French Ambassador in Tashkent. ``I had not known him but he obviously has heard about me as I could make out from the invitation'', he said with a sparkle in his eyes. The obvious connection was football and he learnt that the Ambassador, who was in Algeria earlier had heard about his work there. The surprise was not just that but when the Ambassador sought his services and arranged for a one month coaching assignment with the junior squad of Bordeaux Club in France. ``Of course I was pleased to accept it'', he said. The AFC invitation from Peter Vellappan, Secretary General, came later, wanting him to be the Technical Advisor in the area of Youth football development in the seven countries in Asia, including India.

In January '98, Akramov was assigned Maldives for a four-month tenure and thereafter 15 months in Kathmandu for what he thought was a most enriching experience in Nepal. From Under-19 to Under- 12, he had them all under him in an academy which he housed in a school. What inspired him was the way officials there in football association and Government adhered to his plans. ``I saw the boys develop physically and in the game and I knew Nepal would be well served by these youngsters'', he said and as he had prophesied, the young talents, more than a year later after he had left Nepal, had gone on to win the Subroto Mukherjee tournament in New Delhi. ``I happened to get a glimpse of the boys play as I was there in connection with a refresher course'', Akramov said with a sense of pride.

From Nepal his next destination was India and from August 1999, Akramov has been busy with refresher courses and also initiating steps for launching youth academies in various parts of the country. ``Already nearly 60 coaches have been specially trained by me and steps have been taken under my guidance for academies in Goa, Hyderabad and Chandigarh'', he said though for India he thought regional level academies would be more appropriate. In fact he was particularly keen to harness the untouched areas in North East.

``It is amazing to know about the talents there. They do not have money to live but are rich in football talent. There must be a way to draw them out. The few who have been unearthed are showing their worth in Mumbai and Goan clubs'', he said. ``I am looking forward to seeing Mr. Mour (AIFF Secretary) keeping his promise of setting up an academy for the benefit of North East talent'', he added.

Perhaps it was seeing the young hill talent as also the knowledge of the products of Tata Football Academy that Akramov agreed to don the role of a Coach once again with permission from AFC. He is preparing the Indian Under-19 team and like earlier he is seeing the difficulties of the past. ``Players are most interested in playing for the clubs than the country because they do not want to work long hours which a national camp demands'', he said while mentioning how some players left the camp and yet the national body did not take action. Then again it shocked him that products from TFA were so poor in trapping the ball and in reacting to a situation. ``Each second lost in trapping or in moving meant conceding that much advantage to the opponent. I wish TFA gave lot more importance to these aspects'', he opined.

Nonetheless he saw positive signs too among the young players. They are ambidextrous with their legs, not only that they were kicking the ball to longer distance, something he had not encountered earlier. While it has to be seen how much he can along with assistants Aslam Khan and Mauricio Afonso, former Indian captain turned coach now (Akramov has only praise for these two coaches for they are able to understand his requirements and convey them to the boys), can guide the Under-19 squad (India is to play in Sri Lanka in the qualifying phase of the Asian Championship in July), but this much is clear, Akramov's goal is different: get academies started for the future lay there.

In this connection he was also keen that the Tamil Nadu Football Association President Mr. C. R. Visswanathan, whom he calls ``my close friend'' would evince interest and take steps for Chennai to become one centre in his programme. ``I am ready to provide all technical assistance'', he said. While on Tamil Nadu, Akramov has not forgotten his ``boy'', Sabir Pasha. ``I am happy that he has been picked by Sukhvinder for the England tour. I hope he does well. But I am disappointed that goalkeeper Edward Felix has not lived up to his promise''. Akramov likes to recollect the past particularly talk of players like Bhutia, Jo Paul Anchery, Bruno Coutinho, Tejinder Kumar, Basudev Mondal, Aloke Das and the like. For he believes he has imparted some good to their football careers.

S. R. SURYANARAYAN

Chennai

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