CHENNAI: For most of the game, Chennai City FC and Southern Railways coach V Soundararajan was seen yelling and instructing his players. After the 70-minute mark, he sat dawn on the bench, cutting a distraught figure. His frustration was understandable as Railways were thrashed 5-2 by a relegation-threatened Madras Sporting Union (MSU) during a CFA Senior Division league game here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday. Managing two teams is no easy task. Particularly, if one of them is part of the country’s top-tier. As a coach, a lot of factors come into play — time, tactics and the most important one — results.
As far as results go, both teams are not in the best of positions. Chennai City FC is seventh on the table with three matches remaining while Southern Railways is fifth with two games left. “I can’t say I am under pressure. I go for training in the mornings with Chennai City and evenings with Southern Railways. But I feel a little tired by the end of the day. Even the results are not up to the mark,” says Soundar.
The 52-year-old agreed that results are more or less similar for both his I-League and CFA Senior Division clubs. One can be forgiven for assuming that similar tactics are being used at both clubs. But that isn’t the case. “The systems I use for both clubs are not the same,” he says.
“In I-League, I ask my players to penetrate the defence faster and utilise the wings. With Southern Railways, we sit back more. But it all changes according to the situation. For example, I ask my players to slow the game down when we are in the lead, be it I-League or CFA.”
While the burden of managing two teams have taken a toll, it could have been worse, Soundar suggests. “Taking care of two clubs have definitely affected me and the results. But it could be the other way as well. What if I am managing one side and the results are even poorer?”
Soundar, who started his coaching career in 1997, had to wait for two decades to coach at the highest level. While everything hasn’t gone according to plan, the AFC Pro Licence holder has set targets for the remainder of the season. “Qualifying for the Federation Cup is the main objective. After that, I prefer to finish fifth or sixth depending on the situation. In CFA, we are safe now. Our aim is to finish as high as possible,” he said.
Results: Senior Division: Madras Sporting Union 5-2 Southern Railways.
First Division: YMSC 1-0 Eleven Warriors.
vimalsankar@newindianexpress.com