Star medio to pull strings from sidelines now

It was more because of unfortunate circumstances rather than a meritorious promotion that Jamil got handed the reins at Mumbai FC though. And the multi-faceted character is well aware of it. Mumbai FC may have made a huge impact in their debut I-league season by being the giant-killers,but the club ran into a number of controversies in the immediate post-season leading to a major exodus,which included their coaching personnel and key players. Coach David Booth,manager Henry Menenzes and assistant coach Arshad Hussain were all on their way out and it was in such an atmosphere that Jamil was entrusted with the high-profile job.

“I still am unsure about what really transpired during that period and I was very sad when I learnt that David sir,Henry sir and Arshad were leaving. I was approached by the management in early June and I readily accepted the opportunity,” reveals Jamil.

Being pressed into the role as successor to someone like Booth is a great honour,insists Jamil,and reveals that it was the Englishman who originally spotted his aptitude for being a coach. “Our relationship goes back to when we were at Mahindra United. He liked the way I was motivating the younger players in the team and asked me to consider becoming a coach,” says the former Mahindra and Air-India player.

Jamil spent his first year with Mumbai FC in the 2007-08 season as a player in the I-league second division. “And David sir asked me to take care of the junior team and also continue to be part of the senior team. But as the season progressed,I got so involved with coaching that I had no time to concentrate on my own game,” he says.

Jamil in fact reveals that Booth had actually chalked out a four-year plan for him,which eventually had him taking over at Mumbai FC. “He believed that I should take care of the under-19 squad for a couple of years and work on my credentials before I could replace him,” he says.

Jamil,who received his C-license from Bangalore,only this month,is confident that his young team despite a few crucial departures will live up to their high expectations after last year’s dream run. “All our three foreign players have left and I am still unsure about who all are coming in this time. But I am seriously backing our local talent to do the job,” says the young coach.

Star-striker Abhishek Yadav,who was one of the core performers last season,is one of the names that Jamil is desperate to bring back into his team’s fold. “I have told the management that he is one of the first-choice names and it will be great to have him,” he says.

And Yadav is equally buoyant about his former Mahindra team mate’s new assignment,and believes that he will make the perfect switch from star-player to star-coach. He says,“Jamil knows the sport inside out and I’m sure he will be equally special in his latest avatar.”