CHENNAI: It is the whiff of a challenge that spurs TK Chathunni on. For why else would he, having coached the best football clubs in the country, settle to mentor a side still learning to crawl before they walked?
While his credentials could have easily sealed him a deal among the I League sides, he chose to guide a club formed last year in Kochi-Josco FC-a side that has more aspirations than achievements. The club enthralled the crowd with bursts of unbridled enthusiasm, so quintessential of Kerala sides of the yore.
Though he was disappointed at their performance against Chennai
Customs-players were duly given a dressing down post match-Chathunni is upbeat of the players learning the ropes rather promptly. “Most of them are still raw, average age is only 22 and were picked from a selection camp in Thrissur last year. Besides we have two Nigerians (Onebi and Mathew).
Talent-wise, at least 15 of our players are capable of playing at the I League level in a couple of years,” said Chathunni, who has coached side such as Mohun Bagan, Churchill Brothers, Dempo, Viva Kerala and Salgaocar.
To gauge their previous season’s performances, Chathunni’s conviction is firmly grounded in reality. Last season they stunned I League sides such Pune FC, BEML in various tournaments, besides reaching the semifinals of the
Cochin Premier League, routing en route defending champions Central Excise.
The genial coach, lauded for his talent-nursing skills for which IM Vijayan is a glowing testament, averred his side could breach into the I-League in a year’s time. “We are not letting that thought dictate us, but I’m sure we have the potential to make into the top league in another two years. Getting
our own ground (the only Kerala club to have a ground) is a big boost,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, with more professional clubs popping up, Kerala’s football culture has slightly revived. “I feel Kerala’s talent pool is much bigger and better than Bengal and Goa. It was only that their could have been utilised in a better way. The infrastructure was poor. For example, few clubs had good grounds (Viva Kerala is struggling to find one). Also, they have few tournaments and hence they didn’t get exposure. Still, they managed to produce quality players. Now that more corporates are willing to invest, the infrastructure would only improve. And with more professional clubs in the circuit, the club scene is getting more competitive,. These are good signs for Kerala football,” he noted.