CHENNAI: Robin Charles Raja is a football man to the core. A taxing two months — where he guided Tamil Nadu to the semifinals of the 70th Santosh Trophy notwithstanding, Robin is back for more. “Rest is for the weary” sums up the jovial coach’s attitude towards the ‘Beautiful Game’.
Currently coaching Chennai FC in the CFA Senior Division league, the 49-year old is relishing this chance. After returning from Nagpur on March 13, most people would have expected the coach to take a small break. But most people do not know Robin. He started working with his new team the very next day!
“I cannot stay away when football is concerned. I would like to thank Chennai FC for this opportunity. They hired me during the middle of the Santosh Trophy. They could have picked someone who would have been free.
“But they waited for me to return and take up the mantle. I want to reward their trust and patience,” the AFC ‘A’ licence holder told Express. Incidentally, he was the coach of last year’s champions Hindustan Eagles while his current side finished as runners-up.
Most people consider Viva Chennai and Chennai FC as front-runners for the league. With Viva having already gotten the better of Chennai FC, while Robin was away on Santosh Trophy duty, Viva hold all the aces. But Robin disagrees. “The league has not even reached half-way. There are quite a few ups and downs left. I am concentrating more on the gelling and fitness. Hopefully, it will pay dividends.”
On the subject of the league, Robin describes the improvement the league has seen over the years as well as exposing the flaws in the structure. “With the advent of private clubs and the arrival of foreigners, professionalism has increased. Even the young Indian players have learned the importance of discipline.
“But the decline of office teams like Income Tax, ICF, Indian Bank have dealt a big blow to young players as they have stopped recruiting. The trend has to change,” he reveals. Improvement, he feels, will only come to this part of the country if grassroots programs are undertaken by each and every club.
As far as his coaching future goes, the 49-year-old wants to improve even further and experience coaching at the highest level. “After beating Bengal in Santosh Trophy group stage, I received an offer from I-League 2nd division club Southern Samiti. Last year, Guwahati FC had approached me. Things have not fallen into place. Hopefully, in the days to come I will get my chance to shine on the national stage.”