PHOTOs: GIFT School Parade including Sunil Chhetri, Sunil Shetty & ex-Internationals

The inaugural 'Goa International Football Table' was held on Friday/Saturday in Panjim, Goa; where stalwarts from the football community were discussing the scope and future of football in India and formulating a concise football charter for the state of Goa.

Current India captain Sunil Chhetri, who now plays for Churchill Brothers SC, along with Bollywood action star Sunil Shetty, Dronacharya Awardee Syed Nayeemuddin, ex-Indian football players Magan Singh and Inder Singh alongwith popular football juggler Jestes Antony kicked-off the parade from Marriotts Goa on Saturday and from there on visited different schools around Panjim.

GIFT School Parade including Sunil Chhetri, Sunil Shetty & ex-Internationals

The inaugural 'Goa International Football Table' was held over the last couple of days in Panjim, Goa; where stalwarts from the football community were discussing the scope and future of football in India and formulating a concise football charter for the state of Goa.

Some of the greatest football stars from yesteryears alongwith players from the present Indian football team had come together to flag off the 'Goa International Football Table'.

Current India captain Sunil Chhetri, who now plays for Churchill Brothers SC, along with Bollywood action star Sunil Shetty, Dronacharya Awardee Syed Nayeemuddin, ex-Indian football players Magan Singh and Inder Singh alongwith popular football juggler Jestes Antony kicked-off the parade from Marriotts Goa at 10.00 am and from there on visited different schools around Panjim on Saturday.

The star-studded float led by Dr. Rufino Monteiro (Chairman, GFDC) and a fleet of staff from Goa Football Development Council interacted with school kids and gave away footballs sponsored by Nivia-Freewill to promote the fun-loving sport.

The gala parade made a stopover at Don Bosco School (Panjim), Sharda Mandir School (Miramar), Our Lady of the Rosary (Dona Paula), Auxilium Convent (Caranzalem) and finally Red Rosary School in Miramar. While the kids were overjoyed to meet their favourite football icons, the highlight of the parade was the felicitation of the stars by the Principal of each school.

Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Chhetri, said, "The difference between all of us here and you'll children is that you still have a chance to choose a career. You can be anything that you want in life but always follow your dream and while you do that, it's very important that you take up a sport because no matter what game you play, the game is going to make you a better human being and I can tell you that from my own experience."

As the awardees followed the entourage with pride, school students and the locals on the streets joined the convoy with full enthusiasm while football stars kept the excitement going with their animated stunts and friendly approach.

Md Sporting fire Nayeem, are his coaching methods antic?

Kolkata's Mohammedan Sporting Club yesterday fired their coach Syed Nayeemuddin after a string of bad results and unrest amongst the players. The club took the decision after a board meeting which was also attended by Union Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed, who also happens to be the clubs president. The final nail in the coffin was Sporting's loss in the Federation Cup qualifiers against Northeastern minnows Oil India Limited.

An official said after the decision was taken, "It's best to part way with the coach, following our pathetic shows. Players were getting frustrated with his methods. He still lives in the past and swears by it. He has no idea about modern coaching methods. Worse, he is not ready to upgrade himself."

Somehow the same reasoning as was given in the past when Nayeemuddin was fired or released by clubs. And Indian clubs in recent years have become reluctant to bring in Nayeemuddin as their coach and this firing will not strengthen his case. And a question once more sadly comes up. Is one of Indian football's most decorated coaches in Syed Nayeemuddin, the only Dronacharya awardee in football, not willing to change his coaching and way of handling teams?

It isn't the first time that it has ended for Nayeemuddin in such a way. I remember being in Delhi in March 2006 when Nayeemuddin was the chief coach of the Indian national team. India faced Yemen in an 2007 Asian Cup qualifier at the Ambedkar Stadium. But the players were more then just unhappy in the way the coach was handling affairs, his army line drills and the long durations of his training. When I met the players before the game, they looked tired, even jaded and some just didn't seem match fit. The result was a 0-3 defeat and a few days later Nayeemuddin was fired by the AIFF.

Nayeemuddin should now go into himself and ask himself if he could change certain things before he takes up the next coaching assignment. Before the job at Mohammedan Sporting Nayeem had moaned publicly that no club was willing to take him. Maybe there is a reason for this. And I hope for him that he realises this and changes for good...