Faulty system to blame for Raja’s early ouster

The fifty year old A. Robin Charles Raja became the first coaching casualty in the ongoing 10th Hero I-League. Chennai City FC a new franchise in the I-League removed him just seven games into the season. Assistant coach Andrew Oakley (Australia) will take charge of their home match this week-end against Mumbai FC.

Raja was sacked as the team was not faring well and sponsors unhappy with the results. Chennai City began the season with a goalless draw against fellow debutants Minerva Punjab, but lost five of their next six games, leaving them bottom of the table.

Their only win was against Aizawl FC at home. Raja, who has coached Tamil Nadu in the Santosh Trophy, is a victim of circumstances.

He is also being blamed for not fielding enough local players in the playing XI. Vikram Murali, general secretary of Chennai City FC, said that he neglected their philosophy of nurturing and utilising local talent.

They were unhappy that winger Raegan Albarnas a regular in Tamil Nadu’s Santosh Trophy teams was rarely used by the coach. However Raja had limited time at his disposal as he took over only in December 2016 and opted for experienced outstation players and two Brazilian strikers in the opening matches.

He felt that many local players lacked the physique and big match experience to compete in the I-League.

Chennai City FC were granted direct entry to the I-League only in the second week of December 2016. Raja recruited players in a limited span of time, from among those who were still available. The best had been signed by other clubs.

He opted for experienced players like international goalkeeper Karanjit Singh, stopper Dhanraj Ravanan, wing backs Joseph Clemente, Debabrata Roy and midfielders Denson Devdas and Dhanpal Ganesh.

Unfortunately for him, all did not click and some like Karanjit and Ravannan missed matches due to injuries. Raja has been made a scapegoat for Chennai City’s lack of success. The system of last minute inclusion of franchise clubs in the I-League is faulty.

In the last two I-Leagues, franchise clubs have finished last.

Bharat FC of Pune finished last in the 8th Hero I-league in 2015 and promptly closed down their football team. Dempo, who finished second last, were relegated.

Last year another newcomer, DSK Shivajians, finished last but survived because of the rule that a franchise team cannot be relegated for three seasons. Instead Aizawl FC were relegated but recalled to the I-League as three Goa clubs withdrew from this edition.

Bengaluru FC in 2013 was an exception. They won the 7th I-League in their inaugural year as they had more time at their disposal to develop a team.

Ample time, practice matches and sustained training are needed to develop a competitive squad for the I-League.

Chennai City FC had less than a month to recruit and form a squad, so Raja is not to be blamed.

Former Chennaiyin FC assistant coach Vivek Nagul, former Bengaluru FC assistant coach Pradyum Reddy and 52-year-old V. Soundararajan (who has not coached a big team), but is an AFC professional coaching license holder, are being considered for the post.